Chicago is just so well located it would have been fairly easy to have got there. I could have taken a cheap Amtrack train from Mississippi to get there.
I'm not upset and I live here (well, I live in the suburbs now, about 30 minutes from the city...that's four hours Olympic traffic time).
Honestly, I have no doubt in my mind that the taxpayers would have been stuck with a huge bill. All the profits and job would go to Daley's buddies in his machine. As it is, the crime is out of control, the transportation really stinks so it would be nice if some of that bid money went to new buses and more bus routes. Not to mention, the public school system is a big mess.
If we had won the bid, I could have made a bundle renting out my over-sized house (my brother did that when he lived in Atlanta during their Olympics), but I'd rather see the taxes go down in Chicago. Cook County has the highest taxes in the country and what do they get for it?
James- Sure, we have to pay for the millions spent on the Olympic bid! :-)
I have the feeling that this may cause the political demise of Mayor Daley in the next election. He's really ticked off a lot of Chicagoans with the parking meter deal and the money he collected in taxes for an "Olympic Surplus". This will be his "Jane Byrne" lack of snow removal moment for him.
That said...I still think we have a beautiful city and it's very very clean compared to most big cities I've seen.
James (and with all due respect to Mary Ellen, who lives there),
After some thinking and soul-searching, I, too, am upset that we didn't get the Olympics.
Let me explain the soul-searching: When I first heard the news (via The Corner), I was a little bit ... elated. I thought, Good; stick it to Obama. That'll show him.
Then, I began thinking: Why am I happy? Sure, Obama lost. But, the US lost, too.
The Olympics is a fine occasion for the United States to host the rest of the world, and to show them (what's left of) the American spirit and ingenuity. We should all want to advertise what's good about ourselves.
There's something evil afoot in our politics. Beyond the strict theological, philosophical, and ideological divides (which are huge), there is another spirit that is turning those differences into ... well, almost into hatred.
I'm not upset and I live here (well, I live in the suburbs now, about 30 minutes from the city...that's four hours Olympic traffic time).
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I have no doubt in my mind that the taxpayers would have been stuck with a huge bill. All the profits and job would go to Daley's buddies in his machine. As it is, the crime is out of control, the transportation really stinks so it would be nice if some of that bid money went to new buses and more bus routes. Not to mention, the public school system is a big mess.
If we had won the bid, I could have made a bundle renting out my over-sized house (my brother did that when he lived in Atlanta during their Olympics), but I'd rather see the taxes go down in Chicago. Cook County has the highest taxes in the country and what do they get for it?
I have a prediction The Taxes will go up there and you will still not have the Olympics
ReplyDeleteLOL
James- Sure, we have to pay for the millions spent on the Olympic bid! :-)
ReplyDeleteI have the feeling that this may cause the political demise of Mayor Daley in the next election. He's really ticked off a lot of Chicagoans with the parking meter deal and the money he collected in taxes for an "Olympic Surplus". This will be his "Jane Byrne" lack of snow removal moment for him.
That said...I still think we have a beautiful city and it's very very clean compared to most big cities I've seen.
Well maybe it is for the best. I can recall when Louisiana got the World's Fair. There so many coprruption scandla after that.
ReplyDeleteThis is like that times a hundred
James (and with all due respect to Mary Ellen, who lives there),
ReplyDeleteAfter some thinking and soul-searching, I, too, am upset that we didn't get the Olympics.
Let me explain the soul-searching: When I first heard the news (via The Corner), I was a little bit ... elated. I thought, Good; stick it to Obama. That'll show him.
Then, I began thinking: Why am I happy? Sure, Obama lost. But, the US lost, too.
The Olympics is a fine occasion for the United States to host the rest of the world, and to show them (what's left of) the American spirit and ingenuity. We should all want to advertise what's good about ourselves.
There's something evil afoot in our politics. Beyond the strict theological, philosophical, and ideological divides (which are huge), there is another spirit that is turning those differences into ... well, almost into hatred.
That's scary.
Then again: maybe it's just me.
That's scarier.
BTW: GEAUX TIGERS!