Chicago Patronage Politics

They're at it again!!! This time the mayors #1 aide and his lieutenants got busted for being on the take.... Imagine that.... Corruption in Chicago!! The surprise is that it became public and a few folks had to fall on the sword!!

Mayor Richard Daley's former patronage chief was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for his role in a hiring fraud scheme at City Hall. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Robert Sorich showed no emotion as U.S. District Judge David H. Coar delivered a tongue-lashing. "I don't give a hoot whether this has been going on for 200 years," the judge said. "It still stinks.'' Sorich could have received as much as 57 months in prison, but Coar gave him the lowest end of the sentencing range. Prosecutors say Daley aides rigged hiring for thousands of city jobs and promotions in favor of political loyalists. The scheme allegedly was designed to enhance Daley's political power.

Well, the patronage thing in Chicago has not been going on for 200 years...Hell, the city burned to the ground in 1871! It works in more modern Chicago because of the "loyalty" of the workers. They keep voting for the machine that provides them a job.

Is there a lesson in this for a raise in the minimum wage?? Will those who get the raise vote in the next election for those who got them a raise?? Ummmmm..... I wonder!!