John G. Shedd Public School

In Fighting for Every Black Child, Did She Betray Her Own?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:30:00 -0500

I’ve wanted to write about this one since the headline dropped.

Ten years ago Nikole Hannah-Jones put her daughter, Najya, in a high-poverty Brooklyn public school. The point was to fight New York’s segregated system instead of using the family’s money and connections for a “better” seat. Najya stayed through elementary and middle school. She collected A’s and still fell behind. At 16 she asked her mother, “Did you know my school was bad like this when you decided to put me here?”

Wayne Lawrence for The New York Times. Najya Hannah-Jones, 16.

You can read Hannah-Jones’s essay here.

In the new Times Magazine essay, “In Fighting for Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own?”, Hannah-Jones writes that she felt “overcome with regret,” that she had “failed both my values and my child,” and that her only daughter “looked to me to protect her… And I had not chosen her.” She kept Najya in those schools for years. She let her leave only when it was time to pick a high school. Najya chose a selective public school of the kind her mother had argued against.

The article is a parent’s ledger and a policy brief in the same piece. The two columns do not add up the same way for every reader.

Here’s mine

I don’t have children. I’m a long way from sitting in that car and deciding where a child of mine would go to school. I can barely conceive of how you weigh it.

My own path was different from Najya’s, of course. In Chicago we didn’t have middle school the way she did. What I keep seeing is that she was able to determine her next step.

I wish my parents had weighed that decision differently. My late mother especially decided it was more important that I not go halfway across the city. It bothered her too much that I would have to go “too far” from home for school.

Unlike Najya, I didn’t grasp how big a decision high school would be. In eighth grade I applied to two schools—not counting Harlan, which was the default. One accepted me. The other I never heard from.

My eighth-grade teacher was worrying me about answering the school that said yes. Somehow that letter got lost in the papers at home. I found it in the newspapers we were about to throw away. By then it was already too late.

Regardless, my decision-making about my own education in those days was a fiasco. I sometimes wished that my parents had been more willing to send me to any school I was capable of attending. Though back in the day, before eighth grade, I was never fully the student who applied himself.

Hannah-Jones held her daughter in a failing school for a cause. My mother held me close to home for comfort. I don’t put those motives on the same moral shelf. I do think they rhyme. In both cases an adult’s preference decided the building, and the child paid in lost ground.

Najya at least got a late vote. I ultimately didn’t. A child that age cannot run the whole process. Somebody has to keep the letter off the newspaper pile—and be willing to put the kid on the bus.

Who comes first: the child, the cause, or the shorter ride home? Let’s hear it in the comments.

September 17th is Constitution Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:30:00 -0500

I had to look up what Constitution Day is. It used to be something like I am an American Day or Citizenship Day and in 2017 President Donald Trump reaffirmed it as Constitution and Citizenship Day.

The main significance is that on Sept. 17, 1787 the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania had signed the document that remains the framework of the United States gov't. This document according to the preamble is the Supreme Law of this land.

Oh yeah the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution Article VI, clause 2:

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

I had to share this just to show you where I get the phrase Supreme Law of this land from.

Here's the post from The White House X/Twitter account.

239 years later, the United States Constitution, the very foundation of our Republic, is an eternal reminder that all power throughout our land flows from WE THE PEOPLE. pic.twitter.com/dZEPNCenU1
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 17, 2026

Mr. Beat Asked. Here’s Mine.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Mr. Beat went out on the street and asked people one question: What’s your tribe?

Watch the video — Tribalism, Explained: [VIDEO]

On the sidewalk the answers were America, family, Jayhawks, a fraternity, humanity, Burners, Jewish, hometown, “all the beautiful people around here.”

Then he ranked the bigger lines we actually use to divide “us” from “them”:

10) Lifestyle and fandom
9) Ethnicity
8) Education
7) Wealth
6) Political affiliation
5) Religion
4) Age
3) Skin color
2) Sex and gender

1) Nation

Here’s mine:

I’m Black as far as skin color or ethnicity.
Pop culture: especially Star Trek and WWE (pro wrestling).
Not a huge sports fan, but among other teams I’m a fan of the Cubs and Blackhawks.
Education: people also identify with where they went to school. In my case Bennett-Shedd, Harlan, and Morehouse College. I do hold a bachelor’s degree.
Political affiliation: an independent more than anything, with conservative leanings.
Religion: I consider myself a Christian, if not actively practicing.
The most important thing is that I’m an American.

This post is expected to be published on Labor Day. I hope everyone has a safe and restful one.

Let's hear it in the comments: What's your Tribe?

SAT’s Back. The Experiment Failed.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0500

I’ve been watching the slow, quiet reversal on standardized testing and it finally feels like the data is catching up to common sense.

John Stossel just released a clear update on the whole saga: [VIDEO]

A few years ago, most colleges dropped the SAT requirement after activists insisted the test was racist. The pitch sounded compassionate: remove the barrier, open more doors, make campuses “look right.” Jason Riley of the Wall Street Journal cuts through the rhetoric in the video — it was never primarily about learning. It was about aesthetics and control of the student body.

What actually happened? Students who were mismatched to the academic demands of the schools that admitted them were set up to struggle or fail. Riley puts it bluntly: “They’re being set up to fail… It’s not working.”

The evidence was always there. SAT scores predict college performance about as well as high school grades, and the combination is strongest. A C-average student with a high SAT score tends to outperform an A+ student with a low SAT score once both hit college-level work. Every Ivy League school has now brought testing back. Columbia openly admitted scores are a “useful indicator.” The rest followed.

This matters here in Chicago and across Illinois. Our public school students — especially those coming from neighborhoods where the local high school doesn’t offer the same rigor or AP load as a selective enrollment or suburban school — need every accurate signal they can get. A strong SAT score has historically been one of the few tools that can open doors that grades alone (or a carefully curated extracurricular list) cannot. When colleges abandon that signal, the kids who most need a fair, objective measure are the ones who lose.

There’s also the mismatch problem. Placing a student into an environment where the academic pace and peer level are far above their preparation doesn’t help them. It often produces the opposite of the intended outcome. Real opportunity requires real readiness.

Stossel’s piece is short, direct, and worth the few minutes. It doesn’t claim the SAT is perfect. It simply shows what happens when institutions ignore predictive data in favor of ideology, then quietly reverse course once the results become impossible to ignore.

For those of us thinking about how to prepare kids in Chicago Public Schools and across Illinois, a few practical questions follow:

How much intentional SAT/ACT preparation should our high schools be offering, especially in schools that serve students who can’t afford private tutoring?
Are we still treating “test-optional” as a virtue, or are we preparing students for the reality that selective colleges have already moved past that experiment?
What does a stronger focus on measurable academic readiness look like in practice — more rigorous coursework, better diagnostics, earlier intervention — rather than just hoping holistic review will paper over gaps?

I’d rather our students walk into college admissions with real evidence of what they can do than with the soft language of “potential” that too often leaves them underprepared.

Watch the video. Then tell me what you think this shift means for the next generation of Illinois students aiming higher.

Thoughts?

Making Illinois a Purple State: Better Representation in the General Assembly

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:30:00 -0500

To start, I wanted to discuss the possibility of making Illinois more of a "purple state" than the solid blue state it's considered today. In my opinion, there shouldn't be permanent red states or blue states. All states should be competitive—Illinois, California, New York, Texas, Florida, and everywhere else. Healthy competition keeps politicians accountable and forces them to deliver real results for working families across the state.

My goal with this exercise is to make Illinois more competitive politically, especially in the Illinois General Assembly. Democrats have held majorities in both chambers since around 2003, often with supermajorities that limit genuine debate. As of 2026, Democrats control the Senate 40-19 and the House 78-40. That's not healthy balance—it's one-party dominance.

Chamber IL House of Representatives - Source

The Cost of Uncompetitive Representation

When one party controls the General Assembly with little opposition, the result is often legislation that passes along strict party lines with minimal compromise. This can lead to policies that don't fully reflect the diversity of views across Illinois. Persistent challenges like high taxes, budget struggles, and out-migration highlight the need for stronger checks and balances.

Low competition reduces the incentive for representatives to reach across the aisle or innovate on issues that matter to everyday Illinoisans.

Key Reforms for Better Representation

1. Fair Redistricting and Competitive Maps Gerrymandering creates safe seats that lock in uncompetitive districts. Independent redistricting commissions or constitutional reforms for fairer maps would give more voters a real choice.

2. Return to Cumulative Voting for the Illinois House Illinois once had a proven system: cumulative voting, used from 1870 to 1980. In three-member districts, voters received three votes they could distribute freely. This helped ensure minority viewpoints won seats even in leaning districts and promoted more bipartisanship.

Why was it eliminated? In 1980, voters passed the "Cutback Amendment," which reduced the size of the House and switched to single-member districts to cut costs and simplify representation. While well-intentioned, the change coincided with and likely accelerated Illinois’ shift toward deep one-party Democratic dominance. Safe seats proliferated, reducing competition. Many leaders later regretted losing this tool for balance.

A modern version would use multi-member districts (3–5 seats) where voters get an equal number of votes to allocate as they wish. Combined with independent redistricting and modern balloting, it could restore broader representation. Illinois already has a working example in Peoria’s city council elections, which shows the system can successfully support diverse candidates today.

3. Additional Ideas to Increase Competition

Encourage competitive primaries and independent candidates.
Term limits.
Strong voter education on down-ballot races.

Opportunity in 2028: A Constitutional Convention

Illinois voters will decide in 2028 on a constitutional convention (automatic every 20 years). This could open the door to revamping representation — fair maps, modern cumulative voting, and more. In 2008, voters rejected the question amid heavy opposition advertising focused on pension language. We can do better in 2028 by centering the discussion on accountability and competition.

Why This Matters Now

Restoring tools like cumulative voting would help correct the effects of the 1980 Cutback Amendment and create a more purple, responsive General Assembly. Illinoisans deserve real choices and representatives who earn their seats through results.

Call to Action: Support fair maps, cumulative voting reforms, and thoughtful engagement ahead of 2028. Share this post, contact your representatives, and stay informed. Let's build a more competitive Illinois.

What are your thoughts? Comments welcome below.

Resources Supporting a Return to Cumulative Voting

FairVote on Fair Representation Voting in Illinois — History, benefits, and revival efforts (including past bills).
Ballotpedia: Illinois Cumulative Voting — Detailed overview of the original system and repeal.
Chicago Magazine: Bring Back the Big House — Case for reviving cumulative voting.
Independent Voter Network on Cumulative Voting — Analysis of Illinois experience and regret over the 1980 change.

Illinois Isn’t Finished Yet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0500

I wanted to get back into campaign mode. We’re about three months from the Illinois gubernatorial election, and we’ve heard nary a peep from Republican nominee Darren Bailey. Meanwhile Governor J.B. Pritzker has been making noise about President Donald Trump and signaling his own 2028 ambitions.

Recently Al Salvi sat down with Jeff Berkowitz on Public Affairs for a half-hour worth watching if you care about Illinois at all. The title is blunt: Should ex-State Rep Al Salvi run Bailey’s IL Gov Campaign. The conversation is less about staffing charts and more about whether Bailey can actually beat Pritzker in November.

Watch it here: [VIDEO]

Salvi’s argument is straightforward. Taxes and affordability are the dominant issues. He says Pritzker is more politically vulnerable than conventional wisdom admits, that the governor has not focused enough on Illinois itself, and that high taxes, weak schools, public-safety worries after the SAFE-T Act, and out-migration have made life harder than it needs to be. Berkowitz pushes back on the polling, the money, the messaging, and whether Bailey’s campaign is breaking through. That tension is the useful part of the interview.

The education section belongs on this blog. Salvi and Berkowitz both treat failing proficiency—not just in Chicago, but across the state—as a real problem. Salvi’s answer is school choice: let the money follow the student, including to private options, at less than the full per-pupil amount now spent. He argues that would introduce competition, give parents an exit from schools that are not working, and still cost taxpayers less. The opposition, in his telling, is mostly from unions that do not want to lose students or jobs. You do not have to accept every frame to notice the question underneath it: if large numbers of Illinois kids are not reading or doing math at grade level, what exactly is the current system protecting?

The other thread that stuck with me is the “lost cause” problem. Salvi says Bailey’s biggest obstacle is not the issues. It is the belief among Republican donors that Illinois cannot be won. He traces that fatigue to the 2022 primary, when major donors spent tens of millions on opposing candidates and then walked away. The result, he argues, is a self-fulfilling prophecy: people decide the state is unwinnable, they withhold resources, and the campaign never gets the airtime to make the case. Whether you like Bailey or not, that is a civic problem. A state that its own residents treat as unfixable will keep acting like one.

This is a rematch. Bailey lost in 2022, won the 2026 primary on a shoestring budget, and is now trying to run a statewide race against an incumbent who can write his own checks. Salvi wants more visible unity after the primary—especially from Ted Dabrowski and, if possible, from the donors who sat this one out. He also wants a clearer, louder case on taxes, schools, and safety. Berkowitz keeps asking whether that case is actually reaching voters. Fair question.

I keep coming back to the same thought exercise this blog has been circling for a while. What would a more competitive, more livable Illinois actually require? Lower property taxes? Real school choice? A different approach to crime and migration? Or is the deeper issue that too many people have already decided the Land of Lincoln is a finished story?

Watch the interview. Then tell me what you think.

Does Bailey have a path, or is Salvi describing a race the money already decided not to fund? And if the schools piece is as bad as they say, what should Illinois do about it that does not just become another slogan?

Creating an Illinois Republic: A Thought Exercise for the Land of Lincoln

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:30:00 -0500

I’ve wanted to write about this subject for a while and keep getting sidetracked. My goal has always been a genuine thought exercise — exploring ideas about Illinois governance without claiming to have all the answers. I’ve enlisted help refining these thoughts so I can better articulate why certain changes feel worth considering.

I’ve been using the word Republic a lot more deliberately. The U.S. Constitution guarantees every state a republican form of government. That guarantee is not just formal language; it is a commitment to representative self-rule, accountability, and government that exists for the public good. One aim of this exercise is to find ways of making Illinois a more distinctive state — a place people would actively choose to live, work, and build their futures.

We should not be proud of corruption or of functioning as a one-party state. Illinois ought to stand alongside states like California, New York, Florida, and Texas in terms of confidence and civic pride. California’s flag still proclaims “California Republic.” Texas was once an independent republic and carries that history with unmistakable pride. Both states have turned identity into energy. I want to explore what an Illinois Republic could mean — not as a name change on paper, but as an aspirational frame that strengthens representation, competition, and shared ownership of our state.

Some states have chosen a related but distinct word to express similar ideals of self-government. Four U.S. states officially refer to themselves as a Commonwealth: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. They adopted the term during their early constitutional periods. “Commonwealth” draws from an older English tradition meaning a political community organized for the common good — the “common weal.” In practice today there is no legal difference between a commonwealth and any other state. The word was chosen to emphasize that government exists for the people rather than for a monarch or privileged few. It is a proud, historical declaration of self-governance.

Why prefer Republic for Illinois rather than Commonwealth? Both terms point toward government for the public good. Commonwealth stresses shared welfare. Republic more directly highlights elected representation, the rejection of hereditary rule, and the active role of citizens through institutions. For the Land of Lincoln — a state whose most famous son defined government as “of the people, by the people, for the people” — Republic feels like the clearer link to the constitutional tradition we already inherit and to the competitive, responsive governance this thought exercise hopes to imagine.

This series will continue as an open exploration. Some ideas will feel practical. Others may seem more ambitious. The point is to think together about how Illinois can live up more fully to its republican foundations and become a place that inspires lasting pride.

What does a stronger republican Illinois look like to you? Which aspects of our state’s identity and history should guide that vision?

Mr. Beat: 250 Years of U.S. History Off the Top of My Head

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0500

This livestream has been going on since about 7:00 AM Saturday morning on America's Semiquincentennial or 250th Birthday. I publish this post on the 4th of July aka Independence Day.

As I post the livestream Mr. Beat had arrived on the 1900s. He's going decade by decade.

Check it out here at your leisure [VIDEO]

Happy 4th to you all!

Mr. Beat on Abraham Lincoln: America's Greatest President?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Mr. Beat teams up with Jared from The Daily Bell Ringer for an engaging deep dive into Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy. It’s fitting that this video was filmed in Springfield, Illinois, because Illinois is often known as the Land of Lincoln. After moving there with his family in 1830 at age 21, Lincoln settled in New Salem, then Springfield. He worked various jobs, taught himself law, served in the state legislature, practiced law, and launched his national political career from the state—making it central to his path to the presidency.

Watch the full video here [VIDEO]

In conclusion, Lincoln is considered one of America’s greatest presidents for preserving the Union, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, and ending slavery—demonstrating adaptability, moral growth, and extraordinary leadership in the nation’s darkest hours despite personal struggles and controversies. Jared (Daily Bell Ringer) emphasizes that Lincoln’s actions strengthened American democracy by showing that a government "of the people, by the people, for the people" could endure and expand freedom.

Thoughts?

What a Governor’s Job Really Looks Like: Lessons from the Bears Stadium Debate

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:30:00 -0500

Source: DesignYourWay.net

Rich Miller’s column from two Sundays ago, shared via Capitol Fax, pulls back the curtain on what effective governing actually requires — and why Governor JB Pritzker’s handling of the Chicago Bears stadium situation raises legitimate concerns.

Pritzker might want to take his own advice https://t.co/etQVjweabq
— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) June 22, 2026

Pritzker has pushed responsibility onto the Bears, correctly advising them to lobby every legislator and build broad support. But Miller points out the irony: The governor himself was in Springfield for just 22 session days this spring, with only 14 scheduled meetings with rank-and-file legislators. That limited engagement, especially on a high-profile issue like keeping the Bears in Illinois, highlights a gap between words and action.

This is an election year, which makes the optics even more important. Bears fans across the state desperately want to keep the team in Illinois. Relocation talk — especially toward Indiana — stings for loyal supporters who see the franchise as part of our cultural fabric. Many feel state leadership showed insufficient urgency and follow-through to make a deal happen and secure the team’s future here.

Adding to the picture is Pritzker’s prominent national profile. With speculation growing about a potential presidential run in 2028, the column rightly questions whether his focus has drifted from core Illinois priorities. Governing requires consistent presence in Springfield — not just when cameras are rolling. Legislators are “needy” for a reason: They respond to direct engagement from the state’s top executive.

Pritzker has a capable staff and has advanced other priorities, but this episode underscores a simple truth: There’s no substitute for a governor fully immersed in the legislative trenches, especially when it comes to retaining major assets like the Bears. Illinois voters deserve leadership that puts state issues first, particularly in an election year.

What do you think? Are Bears fans right to feel shortchanged on efforts to keep the team home? Does Pritzker’s national ambition risk distracting from the job at hand? Sound off in the comments.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Trump Feud: Will It Cost Him in the 2026 Governor's Race?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is more than likely to win a third term as Illinois' governor, however, I find myself wondering if he's going to take a serious beating for his ongoing feud with our 47th POTUS Donald Trump.

In a recent wide-ranging interview with POLITICO at Chicago's iconic Manny's Deli, Pritzker sat down for a candid conversation covering everything from the 2024 election fallout to his sharp criticisms of Trump, his influence in state politics, and speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run. The governor didn't hold back, framing Trump's leadership in stark terms and doubling down on the confrontational style that's defined much of his time in office.

Pritzker has positioned himself as one of the leading Trump antagonists among Democrats. In the interview and recent statements, he highlights what he sees as damage from Trump's agenda to working families, farms, retailers, and more—while criticizing policies on tariffs, immigration enforcement, and broader governance. He portrays the current administration in strong language, calling out tones of political violence and authoritarian tendencies.

Check out the interview here [VIDEO]

The Rematch: Pritzker vs. Bailey in 2026

This dynamic sets up a familiar rematch with Republican Darren Bailey, whom Pritzker defeated handily in 2022. Bailey secured the GOP nomination again in the March primary and is positioning himself as an alternative with downstate roots and a focus on conservative priorities. While Bailey has emphasized being his own person, President Trump recently expressed support, stating “I like Darren Bailey” and criticizing Pritzker in the same breath.

NBC Chicago: President Trump asked about potential Darren Bailey endorsement

Bailey recently took his campaign directly to Chicago City Council on May 20, 2026, delivering public comments where he apologized for past strong rhetoric about the city (including calling it a "hellhole" previously). He clarified that his criticism was aimed at the political class failing residents and offered to work collaboratively.

In his remarks, Bailey outlined three main priorities if elected: affordability, public safety, and education. He highlighted challenges converging urgently in Chicago, proposed using public housing tools to turn renters into owners and build generational wealth in long-neglected neighborhoods, and criticized Pritzker for rejecting a federal tax credit scholarship program (tied to the Trump administration) that he said would have helped 15,000 mostly Black and Latino kids from lower-income families. Bailey stressed school choice, competition to improve all schools, and a willingness to listen to Chicagoans' ideas and frustrations.

Check out Bailey's remarks here [VIDEO]

Pritzker enters as the clear favorite—unopposed in his primary, backed by strong Democratic organization, and leading in polls. Yet the intensity of his feud with Trump—and Trump's support for Bailey—raises questions: Will it energize the base but alienate moderates and independents weary of national-level combat? Or will Illinois voters reward the governor's national profile and resistance over concerns about state taxes, budgets, business climate, and everyday costs?

Reactions to Bailey’s City Council appearance were mixed. Supporters viewed it as a bold outreach effort and appreciated the focus on practical issues like safety and housing. Critics, including Pritzker allies, called it a political stunt and questioned the apology’s sincerity while tying Bailey closely to Trump. The moment generated headlines and online debate but reinforced partisan divides more than it bridged them.

Bailey will likely hammer home themes of overreach, high taxes driving people out of state, and a need for change from "one-party rule," while pitching himself as a pragmatic alternative focused on kitchen-table issues (and leveraging the Trump endorsement where it helps). Pritzker, meanwhile, will frame the race as a choice between continued progress under his leadership versus inviting Trump-style policies that he argues harm Illinois families.

Broader Context and Voter Choice

Pritzker's Manny's Deli interview shows a confident executive comfortable in Chicago's political traditions, reflecting on party lessons from 2024 and his role moving forward. But in a state facing real fiscal and economic pressures, the question lingers: Does the ongoing Trump battle strengthen his hand, or does it become a distraction that Bailey (with Trump's backing) can exploit?

Illinois voters will decide in November. Will they stick with the incumbent despite (or because of) the high-profile feuds, or signal fatigue with the status quo?

What are your thoughts on this matchup, Bailey's outreach, and the Trump factor? Does Pritzker's approach help or hurt him long-term? Share in the comments and let's discuss.

Reclaiming Illinois Pride: Addressing the Loathing and Building a Better State

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:30:00 -0500

In my earlier post on the NBC Chicago documentary "Separation: A State without Chicago", we saw real frustration bubbling up across Illinois. The idea of downstate and suburban areas breaking away from Cook County and Chicago highlights deep divides—political control from the metro area, burdensome taxes, quality-of-life concerns, and debates over whether Chicago functions more as a fiscal drain than an economic engine for the whole state. Rural and small-town Illinois often feels overshadowed. These tensions feed into a broader sentiment: many Illinoisans seem to loathe the state or at least complain about it constantly.

This isn’t new. Back in 2022, the Geography King profile of Illinois noted a sense of self-loathing among residents—no one seems eager to defend the state. And during that year’s governor’s race, I shared thoughts on "IL Governor's race and trashing Illinois", observing how some political talk focuses more on tearing the state down than on fixing it and making the Land of Lincoln better.

For some folks, trashing Illinois has become a perverse pleasure https://t.co/tPAX9DJX6K
— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) May 23, 2022

But why exactly does this persist, and what can we do to foster genuine pride instead?

Why the Frustration Runs Deep at the State Level

Illinois faces structural headwinds that affect everyone from the northern suburbs to southern farms. High overall tax burdens, with property taxes among the worst in the nation, top many residents' lists of complaints. The state's massive pension obligations—among the largest unfunded liabilities in the country—drive much of that pressure, crowding out investments in infrastructure, services, and tax relief. Domestic outmigration continues, with tens of thousands leaving for other states each year, even as international migration provides a slight overall population buffer. Governance issues, including long-standing patterns of one-party dominance and accountability gaps, amplify perceptions that the system isn't responsive to the needs of the full state. These aren't just gripes—they show up in polls, migration data, and everyday conversations about affordability and the future.

The Strengths Worth Pride

Despite the challenges, Illinois has plenty to celebrate as a state. As the Land of Lincoln and the Prairie State, we carry a legacy of leadership and innovation that shaped the nation. Our diverse economy spans world-class finance and transportation hubs, robust agriculture and manufacturing, and strong GDP metrics. The Geography King analysis highlighted reasonable housing prices in much of the state alongside these economic assets—potential that could put Illinois in conversation with stronger-performing states. Natural assets like Lake Michigan, rivers, and prairies provide beauty and resources. Recent progress, such as meaningful drops in violent crime in Chicago during 2025, reminds us that positive change is achievable when focus is applied. These elements form a foundation for renewed state pride—if we choose to build on them rather than just “trashing” the state.

Starting with Governance Changes

For me, rebuilding Illinois pride begins with structural reforms in how the state is governed. Without addressing root issues in budgeting, pensions, taxation, and political accountability across regions, the cycle of frustration and outmigration will continue. These aren’t quick fixes, and they deserve their own deeper discussion in a future post. But recognizing the need for better governance—more responsive to all parts of Illinois—is the essential first step toward a state we can all take pride in again. Better policies could retain families, attract businesses, ease tax pressures, and restore faith in state institutions.

Pride in Illinois doesn’t mean ignoring problems. It means refusing to let them define us and committing to the hard work of improvement. We have the history, resources, and talent to make this state thrive once more.

What do you think?

How can we make Illinois a better state? Share your thoughts on governance priorities, what makes you proud to be an Illinoisan, or ideas for moving forward in the comments. Let’s use this platform to explore real solutions.

Why the Push for "Well-Rounded" Students Might Be Holding Kids Back: Lessons from Graham Frey on Dad Saves America

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Education innovator Graham Frey, known for his work with Primer micro-schools and previously Alpha School, appeared on a recent Dad Saves America episode titled “Falling Behind” Is Public School Propaganda. In a wide-ranging discussion, Frey challenges conventional thinking about what schools should prioritize—including the common goal of producing "well-rounded" students.

Frey poses a key question for parents evaluating educational options (around the 1hr 30 min mark): "Do I want them to be really well-rounded? Do I want them to be specialized?"

This isn't a blanket rejection of breadth, but a call to make intentional choices rather than defaulting to the idea that every child must excel equally across academics, sports, arts, extracurriculars, and more.

Frey's Perspective on Well-Rounded vs. Focused Excellence

Drawing from his own path—from feeling bored and disruptive in a traditional rural Ohio classroom (even ending up behind a cubicle doing worksheets) to thriving in a structured environment with depth and rigor—Frey emphasizes building real capability over surface-level versatility.

Mastery over mediocrity: Spreading efforts too thin across every area can prevent deep competency in essentials like strong math foundations, reading/communication skills, and the core habits that prepare kids for life. True success often comes from a solid "toolbox" in fundamentals first.
Structure enables better outcomes: Kids benefit from safety, routines, high standards, and accountability (such as consistent teacher cohorts over multiple years). From this base, natural strengths and specialization can develop effectively—without the pressure of forced universal well-roundedness.
Questioning the social pressure: The "well-rounded" ideal can trap families in systems that prioritize appearances and checkboxes over genuine progress. Frey highlights how this dynamic, combined with "falling behind" rhetoric, keeps parents supporting underperforming options out of fear rather than results.

The episode stresses that schools should focus on what they can uniquely deliver: strong academics, character habits, and opportunity—while parents handle broader development. Alternatives like micro-schools demonstrate that prioritizing depth and structure often leads to kids who love learning and achieve more.

Frey's insights remind us that children fundamentally want to learn when given the right conditions. Instead of chasing an idealized "well-rounded" profile for every student, parents should clarify their priorities: What skills, habits, and growth matter most for their child?

Watch the full episode here [VIDEO]

What do you think—does the traditional push for well-rounded students serve kids best, or is it time to embrace more focused paths to excellence? Share your thoughts in the comments.

NBC Chicago — Separation: A State without Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:30:00 -0500

Get a load of this, this was uploaded to NBC Chicago's YouTube channel. A documentary about a movement for the rest of the state of Illinois to separate themselves from Cook County & Chicago. Legitimate gripes is for example continued control over Illinois by the politicians of the Chicago area.

Might be more to it than that certainly complaints about quality of life, taxes, even mentions of Chicago being less of a goldmine than a financial disaster. Perhaps the divide depicted in this documentary are between the rural and small towns of this state and a big city like Chicago. [VIDEO]

Question to be asked here, how can we make Illinois a better state?

PBD Podcast interviews Maryland Gov. Wes Moore

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 5 May 2026 14:30:00 -0500

Gov. Wes Moore is a Democrat and so far the only serving Black man as governor of a state. I think you will find this interview very interesting.

What's teased in the beginning of the interview - before it starts - is his thoughts on Gavin Newsom as Governor of California. PBD says Gov. Moore was able to fix his state, however, Gov. Newsom hasn't really been able to. I'd be very curious about this answer.

Here's the interview [VIDEO]

Gov. Moore has served since 2023 and is currently running for re-election this year.

CapFax: Illinoisans should not have to live this way

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0500

I found this interesting on Capitol Fax, yesterday

* One of my top complaints about Democratic rule in this state is the super-majority party’s unwillingness to firmly step in to help some small Black-majority suburban and Downstate towns find their way to fiscal solvency. East St. Louis is just one of many…

What caught my eye is that there is a complaint about Democratic rule in Illinois. The bad news is there's no serious opposition in this state.

It won't solve all problems, however, the right politician could use this. Hopefully this theoretical politician would be serious about getting this done.

Livestream: NASA’s Artemis II Crew Flies Around the Moon

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 12:33:00 -0500

[VIDEO] The four astronaut crew of Artemis II aboard their Orion capsule Integrity will break the distance record set by Apollo 13. They will be the furthest distance from Earth any human beings have been, a record set by the ill-fated crew of Apollo 13 that suffered a castrophic failure that cancelled an attempt to land on the moon.

Hope you enjoy, even if you only watch the replay. At the time I wrote this the crew was about 27 minutes before they reach the far side of the moon, where they will lose contact with the Earth for about 40 minutes.

Now I want to pop Apollo 13 the movie into the old VCR....err get with the times I can stream it now!

Artemis II pilot Victor Glover

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0500

He's about to make history as being the first Black American to orbit the moon. Of course he was quoted as saying it shouldn't be about his race, to go to the Moon as we had during the 1960s with the Apollo missions is a human achievement.

Artemis II launched Wednesday sending four people which also includes the first Canadian and woman to orbit the moon. The design is like an Apollo Command capsule, although there is a much differently designed service module that will propel them around the moon and return them to the earth.

Glover before becoming an astronaut served as a pilot in the US Navy and according to this NY Post article was formerly a two-sport athlete in football and wrestling in his college years.

NASA is live streaming coverage of the Artemis II mission here. [VIDEO]

Also Happy Good Friday!

Museum of Science and Industry: Burlington Route PIONEER ZEPHYR Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:30:00 -0600

I haven't been to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry since I was in grammar school. Oh the Griffin being former Chicago resident Ken Griffin, billionaire financier who gave a gift to this museum hence his name being attached to it.

I don't recall ever seeing this train, nor the WW2 German U-Boat though I may recall the airliner hanging from the ceiling. I do recall the model trainset which I have shared here that portrays the route of Amtrak's Empire Builder. Always thought that was cool.

This is one thing I want to see at that Museum when I go back in the near future, the Pioneer Zephyr was a great design for it's time. It served a non-stop route from Chicago to Denver making the trip in 13 hours.

Russel Sharp Train video's shows us the exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. [VIDEO]

NoCapFund: Why do we have 435 members in the House of Representatives?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:30:00 -0600

I had to attributed this to another YouTube channel - No Cap Fund - because I don't want to see this blog go on a Mr. Beat overload. He had talked about this in the past and have one video to show about it.

Mr. Beat wants to uncap the number of members in the US House of Representatives and he goes through the history of apportionment of representatives. Uncapping the number of representatives doesn't involve a constitutional amendment, it involves an act of Congress.

Mr. Beat has been attempting to get his congressman to take a stand on this issue although it appears a candidate for Congress is willing to take this issue on. And also it appears an Illinois Congresman Sean Casten seems ready to take on this issue as discussed in a live stream.

Here's the most recent video on this topic that Mr. Beat made [VIDEO]

My position on this is ambiguous.

I can believe as stated in this video that polarization is a very serious thing that's worth putting a damper on. Does this necessarily mean more representatives? Does this mean a far more ideologically diverse representatives?

I do like the idea of bringing down the number of people in each district. Say perhaps instead of the 800K population per district we instead create more districts that perhaps could be about half that or less.

Another thing noted is that if you mess with the number of representatives, you may also mess with the Electoral College count - now that's in the constitution (electoral votes are no. of representatives + Senators). Perhaps this means a recalcuation of the Electoral College math.

How could I sell this for say minority districts perhaps this might mean it would be easier in this state at least to create districts for Hispanics, Blacks, and others depending on where they may reside. I want to eliminate gerrymandering and who knows if this may address that. However, the states control drawing congressional maps more than the federal gov't does.

I think this is worth a discussion as opposed to killing this because reflexively we may decide there shouldn't be more politicians. Should we have more than 435 representatives? What do you think?

Mr. Beat: The 2020s are the 1890s

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0600

[VIDEO] This was sort discussed in a previous video shared here on this blog by Spectacles. The common thread is basically the unrest and the inequalities of wealth.

Do you agree or disagree with the assertions of Mr. Beat & Spectacles?

One proposed bid for the former Shedd Elementary School - a community center

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 14:39:00 -0600

I didn't update with regards to what's going on with Shedd School after that meeting that took place - which was a CPS meeting - with regards to what the plans are for that closed school. There are people who are coming up with plans for that school.

Recently I was alerted to an article from the Chicago Tribune which talks about one potential bid for the former Shedd Elementary School - branch of Bennett School.

I like how this article describes the building:

The low-slung building shows few signs of life: Ivy branches snake up the exterior walls, weaving through cracked brick and boarded-up windows. Its marquee sign reads like an epitaph, with faded block letters: “John G. Shedd Elementary School. A great place to learn!”

Would be nice if it could be again.

I snapped this shot in about 2009

Here's the bid that the article talks about and it's being offered by the mother of a slain police officer.

Peace for Preston currently operates a mentoring program out of the Harold Washington Library Center. The new Shedd building will expand that programming, as well as offer mental health support, vocational training and youth recreational programming.

“It’s a community center, so what better place than a school?” bidder Dionne Mhoon said.

Mhoon founded Peace for Preston in honor of her daughter, Aréanah Preston, a slain Chicago police officer. Preston, 24, was shot and killed as she returned home from a late-night shift in 2023. She loved to learn, Mhoon said, and had just completed her master of jurisprudence degree.

The nonprofit is still fundraising for the project, currently at almost half of its $150,000 goal.

“Hopefully someone will see this fixture in the community and know the work that she did,” Mhoon said. “She deserves to be honored.”

On a recent afternoon, Rachel Cooper, 32, stared at the Shedd from her bungalow across the street. She occasionally sees loiterers or vandals near the lot, and even periodic police activity. “It makes me a little bit nervous,” she said.

She moved to the neighborhood with her three young children in May. At the prospect of a community center, her eyes lit up. “If it’s something that my kids could go to, they would love that.”

I see they had to secure the front doors of the school in recent years in addition to the back doors where I'd have to enter to go to class everyday. It would be great to see some positive activity there again.

Any thoughts on this proposed community center?

Spectacles: How did Companies get Bigger than Countries?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 2 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0600

I found this video on Sunday, and before that I saw the collab with Mr. Beat. Well both videos are actually collabs, however, the Mr. Beat video will be shared here at a later time.

[VIDEO] The above video (duration 32 mins.) from the YouTube channel Spectacles talks about the parallels between the 1890s to the 2020s. The comparison between the business trusts of the late 19th to early 20th century to the multinational corporations of today.

When we talk about trusts think about for example Standard Oil - owned by John D. Rockefeller - which owned pretroleum production. That's not the only company or sector we need to be concerned about in this discussion, however, for the United States in the 19th & 20th century it's when a company or an industry grows larger than a state gov't and the federal gov't is enjoined from regulating large business interests.

In the 21st century, corporations are beginning to become bigger than national gov'ts. If one wants to regulate these corporations they have the option to moving to a more favorable environment.

And another issue that's being argued here in both time periods, the inequities become pronounced for workers & consumers.

Mr. Beat: Yes, We're in the Seventh Party System

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 14:30:00 -0600

Wow, I haven't posted here since November 2025. It's not January 2025.

I wanted to share this video from Mr. Beat talking about the potentially 7 party systems. We're living in the 7th party system which started with the 2016 race and the election of Donald Trump.

The six other party systems or political eras are established based on the issues of the day and the shifting positions of the major parties. And even then the actually parties sometimes haven't always been consistent.

Check it out [VIDEO]

In the party system the only time the two major parties remained consistent - namely the Democrats and Republican parties - emerged during the third party system. Which largely started with the Civil War or even argubly during the 1850s when regional differences were at an all time high.

In the first two parties had collapsed which lead to a transition in the party system. The Federalist Party - think John Adams and Alexander Hamilton had collapsed during the War of 1812. For a moment the Democratic-Republican Party dominated American politics. And I would dare say for a brief moment America was a one party state.

In the second party system the Whig Party had emerged and collapsed by the early 1850s - destroyed by the dominant political issue of that era slavery. The Democratic-Republican Party had evolved to become the Democratic Party under the leadership of Andrew Jackson still a force in American politics to this day although surely even President Jackson couldn't recognize his beloved party today.

We can at least say the Democrats has evolved over the years and so has the Republicans. Republicans were the original party for Civil Rights, then later the Democrats.

It was specifically mentioned in this video members of the Klu Klux Klan were once Democrats y.and I would argue they would have no home in either party today.

What is Trumpism? This is what the public might view the Republican Party now.

Well protectionism - that is the usage of tariffs to protect American businesses. More nationalist and think about how the second Trump administration has been more active in promoting and protecting American interest and let's not forget about populism. Trump's 2016 election win was often considered America's version of Brexit and one thing discussed in this video is the rejection of internationalism.

It seems about every 20 or 50 years the system seems to transform. What could be the next transition?

No more penny...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 14:00:00 -0600

The time has come. The penny has been retired and production has ceased at the US Mint. The penny costs a lot to produce in recent years thanks to inflation so that helped with the decision of the Trump administration to end the production of the penny.

Here's an IG post on it.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Washington Post (@washingtonpost)

Imagine that this discussion regarding the value of the penny has gone back all the way to 2008. The late Morley Safer or the iconic TV Newsmagazine 60 Minutes talked about it. And less than 20 years later the elimation of the penny has come to pass. [VIDEO]

Just think earlier this year a recommendation from Elon Musk's team at the Dept. of Gov't Efficiency - we haven't heard about them in a while - was to recommend ceasing production of the penny. Now that time has come to pass.

The plan for my pennies, I may keep some around the house because I imagine they're still legal tender. However, for all others I plan to deposit them into the bank. They're still money and the more you collect they add up very quickly.

They're worth the effort if you see them on the ground in the real world. If not, no big deal I'll happily grab them if I see them.

Also I wonder if retailers would actually round prices to the nearest nickel.