All Men Are Create Equal But Commissioners Are More Equal Than Others

Things aren't as bad as they were in the 1930's, when there wasn't enough money in the coffers to pay public employees.

That being the case, Cook County's governing board realized that, while they couldn't afford full salaries, they could still meet payroll if everyone took some unpaid days off.

Everyone except them, of course.

It's their job to ask others to sacrifice, isn't it?

Earlean Collins was fine with asking others to sacrifice, but how could anyone expect her to give up so much as one cent of her $85,000 annual salary. Commissioner Deborah Sims is outraged over the very idea.

As Ms. Sims has pointed out, she could be getting her full salary with no problem if there hadn't been such a public outcry over the sales tax increase that was levied by the previous administration.

The little people, the peasants, should be happy to pay 10% tax on every purchase, just so Ms. Sims can continue to be paid in full. Why, if they'd just shut up and hand over the cash, Cook County wouldn't have to be cutting its budget and, well, struggling.

It's so common, all that struggling. So vulgar.

County County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is trying very hard to be the adult in the room, speaking of shared sacrifice just like President Obama.

But you see, those who share the sacrifice aren't meant to be those at the top, the ones who are more equal than others. She'll make no headway with the five commissioners who are standing on a statute that prevents pay cuts for lawmakers in the middle of their term. They're standing on principle.

The principle that five Cook County commissioners are more equal than those they were elected to serve.