I guess you want the country to fiscally go like IL and CA. Time to stop working and just get on the gravy train, I don't see why I should work so someone else can sit. Time to take my money and leave the market, live off assets and have "the government" pay for my kids college.

RationalTht: seems like an irrational thought. Right, everyone is suddenly going to quit their jobs just to get that sweet just-barely-able-to-survive government money.

@Doug - just as people on assistance evaluate going and getting SOME job that matches their skills or staying on assistance, others can decide if it is worth it to work that incremental amount to get an extra bonus, or just live on saved assets. Income is figured heavily when working for FAFSA whereas savings is not. Numbers may say it is more lucrative to just live off the government for the 6 years of kids college than to actually "work" hard.

Doug, don't forget all the Senators, Congresspersons, Governors and Generals who walk thru private industry's revolving door and milk the rest of us. Just google "revolving door former members of congress", you'll find your favorite former official working as a lobbyist for business, not as a lobbyist for the people. Just follow the money.

your an idiot

DS -- Good luck in D.C. as Schneider's chief of staff.

"We" being Mesirow and Cong. Schneider's other special interests; he'll toss them a chunk of stimulus funds from the next $4 trillion round of deficit spending.

I'm still in shock that both Schneider and Morrison won. I've never seen two less qualified individuals be selected in any race. I hope Brad's "business background" doesn't bankrupt us, and I hope Julie actually spends some time addressing the real issues in this state instead of worrying about pointless social issues.

@Ronnie - the only qualifications they need for IL was that they had a (D) after their name. Schneider replaced a true moderate in Dold. All of this is due to the gerrymandering that the Democrats did during the last census so it was to be expected. If this were Texas or some place in the South, it would not have been allowed. The Democrats control EVERYTHING here in IL and now we have elected more "like-minded" people for our federal representatives, so I guess that means we (collectively) want, as the state of IL, want the Federal government run like IL is.

RB--Your definition of "rational" must mean even bigger federal deficits and an even larger unfunded state pension liability despite what will become a permanent 67% state income tax increase.

No rational, good politician could overcome the gerrymandering of the Democrats after the last census. They just spread the corruption that is the Chicago machine politicians throughout the state. You must be happy with IL's fiscal direction because you believe more of the same is good.

Before you criticize others, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

LOL @ both

How anyone could expect a IL/Chicago politician to be able to be "bipartisan" is beyond me. We as a country will get what we deserve. It will only be the middle class that will be pulled downward as money can move - something Democrats don't seem to understand.

LF resident, I agree with your sentiments - Dold did a good job winning nearly 50% in a District that voted 63% for Obama last time. I'm sure there were many ticket splitters this time around as well.

Though I didn't vote for him, I wish Schneider good luck in Congress - he certainly has the potential to be a good congressman and, given the narrowness of his victory, hopefully he will want to proof his bona fides as moderate who works across party lines on issues like the deficit and entitlement reform.

RB - the party of NO is in the senate - Reid does not even allow DISCUSSION on bills from Republicans. Well, I am preparing for a continued downward spiral, between IL and the federal government, we will be in trouble. The Eastern US may do OK as all the required building will drive the economy there, but that also means that Federal support for the floundering IL will take a back burner.

With people like Dold and Senator Brown from Massachusetts defeated and other, moderate voices, deciding to leave Congress, the upshot of the election is that there will be fewer moderate voices in both caucuses (not that I have given up hope already on Schneider).

Linda- I agree. His robo calls were intrusive and annoying. Tried to get them stopped but this effort was to no avail

Dolds and Republicans are out of line! Health care is not a right given to them by the god of the dollar offering it to anyone making milions like them and no one else...that's out of line. Creating jobs that pay almost nothing, and no benefits, and no overtime but forcing employees to work at least 50 hrs. PER WEEK...that's out of line. You don't know because you didn't work for Dold so shut up. Now Dold, mark my words, will increase the unemployment by firing Larry Hanks (vice president at Rose Pest) and William Hastings (manager at Rose Pest) by Dec 01, 2012. You heard it here from someone who knows Dold, the real Dold not the public facade he was selling to the voters. He is a very nice crook this Dold. Still, thank you for not voting for the fake man...the crook with a great family (I mean it, I know both his dad and mom) and no future in politics hahahahaha. Dold...you have being fired 130.000 times yesterday...enjoy it...you deserved it...crook...pay your employees overtimeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

DS--Now that Dold has lost the election, do you have an exit strategy for removing yourself from the Patch boards? Your illiterate, hysterical postings no longer amuse. At least change your screen name, which was always a lie, now obsolete. If you really did work for Dold and were fired, it's easy to see why. A pest control company really can't keep a pest around.

Those who ask for the overtime pay are not pests nor do they deserve to be fired except in your "lawyerly" screwed-up world. That's why everybody hates lawyers: you have no common sense. I am not going anywhere: I will be on dold's case until employees at Rose Pest Solutions receive their overtime or are no longer forced to work 50 hours per week "because the boss wants it." Dold, you little crook, don't listen to stpid lawyers, listen to me: pay your employees overtime or stop forcing them to work over 40 hours...Lawyers tell Dold to ignore people like me because lawyers do not get paid unless litigation hapen but Dold, you little crook, think about it....after all you sold yourself as "small business owner"...isn't it cheaper to pay overtime than pay overtime and lawyers? Employes at Rose Pest deserve overtime pay, a right not bestowed upon them by almighty Dold family!

Kathie, are you aware that that's exactly what Republicans did to Democrats 10 years ago, when the Republicans drew the map? Just thought you should know the facts.

A correction: it was 20 years ago.

Karen,
What laws that you liked were stopped by the Republicans?

Karen- good for you! The American people have spoken. They want movement on issues not more gridlock by obstructionist Republicans.

Unfortunately Boehner and McConnell are already up to their old tricks. They're already talking trash about not being willing to work with the president. Looks like more pain for Americans. When the president called them right after his speech Tuesday night neither one would take his call. Both were supposedly sleeping....give me a break. What a crock...

"As an Illinois taxpayer and job-creator, I'm making plans to leave for a state that isn't afraid to allow every vote count and let the chips fall fair and free."

Utah, Wyoming, or Idaho might suit you.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/map_of_the_week/2012/08/map_utah_wyoming_idaho_are_the_most_republican_states_.html

Just sayin, Chris ... Illinois clearly is a failed state. We are a national joke... especially now after doubling down with this election! People like me are mobile. The failed policies you seem to support have driven this place into the ground. The more of us who leave, the fewer will be around to pay the huge pension and entitlement bills your buddies are racking up. So, maybe that will make you happy? Open your wallet and good luck.

Hey...the guy thinks he is destined to be President. His arrogance knows no limits. I feel sorry for the imbeciles donating to his 2014 campaign...money thrown away because by then the Courts will rule his company, Rose Pest Solutions broke the Labor Act, while he was a Congressman no less...lawmaker and lawbreaker in the same time...

he would be just as qualified as obama

Dold dreams of the day he is President and gets to outlaw the overtime laws...To him, his employees are serfs who better shut up or be fired! Well...Dold, you got fired pretty ugly last Tuesday :)