Debate is Key, Especially When We Disagree

While I hope that everone in Orland Park reads these blogs, I really want to dedicate this one to Paul, Andrea, McGinnis, Megan, Sue, Karen and Jim.

No, it's not to brag about the Village Board vote. It's to commend you (yes, commend, not condemn). Commend you for raising the bar of accountabilty on this issue.

That's the thing about democracy, it's a process, not a destination. Issues come and go, elections are won and lost, but democracy and accountabilty are constant.

Yes, the 9750 project passed and every indication is that this project will be starting soon. Ultimately, its success will be contingent on finding about 300 tenants to lease apartments. My support for this is hinged on the idea that if we can't find 300 people wanting to rent a high end apartment in Orland Park, then we have problems that go far beyond this project. I believe in Orland Park and what it stands for. It's what brought me here 18 years ago and it's what kept me active in pursuit of making it better. I imagine that is what motivates you, as well.

Often, people complain about political leaders fighting all of the time. You see this a lot at the national level, especially when Congress debates budgetary items. Personally, I like that there is debate and I don't think that politicians should go along to get along. While I support the 9750 project, I'm glad that there was debate. I would be very nervous about a project of this magnitude being approved without a fight. As with any issue, there should be debate. Ultimately, a decision has to be made and executed. But it doesn't and shouldn't end there. Debate creates an accountabilty for those who prevail. The Village Board knows it must be vigilant about the success of this project because they know that if they fail, there will be a price that will be paid for that failure.

It's that opposition that keeps everyone in check. Democrats worry about Republicans and Republicans worry about Democrats. Even in a one-party county like Cook, the Strogers worry about the Preckwinkles and the Emmanuels worry about the Chicos. That's how it should be. I'm a Republican, but I'm sure glad we have Democrats.

From the beginning on this, I've said that, in the end, we go with what and who we believe in. Some of the comments indicated that many of the folks who opposed this project never voted for Mayor McLaughlin. My guess is that if there were things you didn't like about him before, there wasn't much he could say or do to sway you on this one. I'll be honest with you, I have always liked and respected the mayor, so no surprise, I'm more inclined to trust him on this one.

You can read opinions by experts and consultants who tell you that something is good. But, you can also read opinions by other experts, equally qualified, who say something is a bad idea. In the end, we're all a product of our own life experiences; our own vaules and biases. That's why we can write blogs and make comments, but we probably didn't change each others' minds. It's all still valid because there are still a lot of people who don't have a strong opinion on this. I imagine we'll all be working hard to sway them.

And that's democracy.

Is it perfect? No, but would any of us want it any other way?

I didn't think so.