‘Doomsday’ battle goes to the brink
Like many residents of Illinois, I’ve developed a reflexive response to lawmakers’ threats of “doomsday.”
A yawn. A roll of the eyes. A sad, slight shake of the head.
Please. Spare us the dire forecasts and alarming descriptions of the chaos to come. We’ve heard them before. We remember the numerous mass-transit doomsdays that came and went last year, and the periodic predictions of government layoffs and shut-downs that turn out to be so much Chicken Little.
And so it was with skepticism that I had been following the recent protests of those whose state-funded agencies provide alcohol and drug rehabilitation services. Massive, unconscionable cutbacks! Drastic program reductions! Vulnerable clients desperately wandering the streets!
Yes, yes. And then just as we’re all gazing into the abyss and trembling, warring lawmakers in Springfield will somehow get together to move money around and avert the crisis.
But this time my cynicism got the better of me.Â
admin @ July 29, 2008