Leadership Matters - October 2013

Illinois Issues pension ______________________________________

Dana Heupel is the executive editor of Illinois Issues and

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Patrick that we ought to withhold candy from the leaders of the class until the problem is settled.” That’s what’s called a mob mentality, John Q. Would you really want any class president to have so much power that he or she could force the class to do anything — anything — by refusing to pass out candy? That’s not how our class was set up, even if Patrick thinks he’s found a loophole. [SILENCE] OK, someone else? Ralph? “I think we should all chip in a little bit and pay the old, retired workers what we owe them.” “B-o-o-o-o-o!” “No way!” “Goody-two-shoes!” “We’ve given them enough already!” “Not out of my lunchbox!” Class!! Class!! We’re back to a mob scene, again. Let’s treat Ralph and everybody else with some respect. I’m sure we’ll consider his ideas. Right, Patrick? Right, John? Right, Mike? “Nope.” “Not me.” “No way, Jose!” Well, at least you three agree on something. Henry, we haven’t heard anything from you. “The noble, old retirees were promised that money for slaving all of those years under the whips of their cruel masters. A promise is a promise is a promise is a promise is a promise …” OK, Henry we get your point, even if it is a bit embellished. How many of you agree with Henry? Let’s have a show of hands this time — don’t shout out! One, two, three … A lot of people keep raising their hands, then taking them down. Why are you doing that? “We’re trying to figure out who — Henry or Ty or Mike or John — will give us more candy if we ever decide to run for a class office.” I can’t see who said that. Would you please identify yourself? [SILENCE] OK. It’s clear we can’t do anything with such a big group. Kwame, why don’t you and Elaine take a couple of your classmates over there in the corner and see if you can solve the problem in a way that everyone can live with. Yes, Patrick? “I just want to tell them they have to be finished by tomorrow!” That’s not for you to decide, Patrick. Yes, Ty,

what do you want now? “I want to say that I really didn’t say what I said about talking to other teachers and giving the class bad grades.” But that is what you said … oh, never mind; the bell’s about to ring, anyway. OK, children, what did we learn today? We haven’t heard from you, Abe. What’s your honest opinion? “Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser — in fees, expenses and waste of time.” Well said, Abe. Everyone, you could do worse than abiding by those words. Class dismissed. Patrick, Mike, John — don’t run in the halls!! Illinois Issues is a not-for-profit monthly magazine that has been produced by UIS (formerly Sangamon State University) since 1975 and is dedicated to providing fresh, provocative analysis of public policy in Illinois. It is widely considered to be the state’s leading public policy periodical. Heupel’s column and the photo are reprinted here with permission from Illinois Issues. director of publications for the Center for State Policy and Leadership at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). He oversees all aspects of the magazine and the other center publications. Before being named to the position in January 2008, he covered Illinois state government as a reporter and editor for GateHouse News Service and Copley News Service. He also has served as city editor of the (Springfield) State Journal-Register; the Fresno (Calif.) Bee; the (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Journal-Gazette; and the (Kendallville, Ind.) News-Sun, and assistant city editor for the Indianapolis Star. Among various honors, he conceived and coordinated a newspaper series on the relationship between campaign contributions and Illinois state contracts that won the national George Polk Award for Political Reporting, and he was named Illinois Associated Press Member of the Year for coordinating a statewide open records project. He holds a journalism degree from Indiana University.

Illinois Issues, September 2013

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