By:  Diane Benjamin

If you are still a subscriber to the Pantagraph, ask yourself why.  Very little news is ever printed, just a lot of fluff.  They are best buds with local government, so heaven forbid they would criticize any waste of local taxpayer money.

I found this buried in the budget under Administrative Accomplishments:

Staff continued to build strong working relationships with reporters from The Pantagraph, WJBC, WGLT, and other area media.  http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8224  Page 116

Aren’t you thrilled that Bloomington City Government has the local progressive media wrapped around their fingers?  Now you know why I started blnnews.com.  See any local radio stations missing?  Like Cities 92.9?

I wonder if city staff also writes the stories?  It’s hard to tell that an objective voice contributed to most of the utterances.

Today the Editorial Staff contributed more nonsense to the financial implosion facing Illinois.  Of course, whoever wrote it didn’t put their name to it.

According to unnamed staff,  destruction will come to all if the State cuts funding to cities.  I’m sure the unnamed think pensions can’t be cut, education can’t be cut, Medicaid can’t be cut, and now returning funds to cities can’t be cut either.

Living in the real world where unlimited amounts of money don’t exist should be something the Pantagraph knows well.  How many subscription have cancelled?  You have very little staff and you keep trying to unload your building, but fiscal responsibility by government will hurt taxpayers?  Really?

Cutting back hasn’t hurt your paper, it was always bad.

Cutting back government won’t hurt either, except the people making their living from other people’s taxes.

Illinois is rated the worst run state in the nation.  Unfunded liabilities should make everybody run to other states unless reforms are made.  Businesses are crushed by regulations and taxes.

But, don’t cut the cities share of taxes.

Maybe local government, like the state, should learn how to live within their means.  No, local government doesn’t have to raise taxes – unless they want a mass exodus.  Quit providing services the citizens can live without.  Quit outsourcing decisions and start making hard choices yourself.  Quit funding entertainment, it’s not your job.

Citizens have lived with austerity for many years – unless they work for government.  Start sharing in the pain instead of acting exempt.

Thanks for laughs though oh great unnamed one!

Do you have an encore?  Maybe next you can say the feds can’t cut money to states or cities.  Just disregard that $18 Trillion debt!