Un-Liberaled Woman

Today at work I got this interesting article sent to me on the latest development here in ObamaMecca – aka Chicago.

Seems that Mayor McCheese!!! aka Richard Daley is now contemplating letting KFC, yes Kentucky Fried “Chicken,” clean up the city’s still-present-from-2007 pothole problem on the roads. Oh, for a nominal fee, of course. (via Huffington Post)

KFC, the fried chicken king, wants to add potholes to its menu.

The restaurant chain is offering to fill Chicago’s potholes, if it can plaster its logo on the repair.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley on Tuesday seemed interested in the idea. However, he is amenable only if KFC is willing to pay. Daley mentioned $25 million and he threw out $50 million. At one point he even got as high as $80 million.

I think this is interesting to debate. On one hand you’ve got infrastructure problems that need money and a government who’s ultimately responsible from a production standpoint but is cash-strapped because they are operating outside of their means year after year. But then once you let private enterprise in, where does the line get drawn? On the other hand, we constantly see government meddling in private business, so why not the reverse if it means citizens will benefit at only the cost of seeing an additional marketing promotion?

I don’t really see the harm, but then my husband brought up a good point (in addition to the awesome nickname for our respected – snickers – mayor).

The issue I have with it is that Daley has been ranting and raving for years because of billboards. I have heard him complain on numerous occasions. This would require him to change that precedent. I don’t like billboards, but can you let KFC advertise on the street (literally) and not let McDonald’s place a billboard on a privately owned building?

At the end of the day, the real problem isn’t whether or not to let private enterprise get into a services trade with government. The problem is that the reasoning for government in the first place is that they are providing services that are supposedly served best under a collective funding and organization. Take away that reason because you’ve let private enterprise in, then why have government continue getting the tax revenue they do because they are no longer providing those services???

Unfortunately, the last 50+ years, people in civic professions have moved toward the reward scenario of private enterprise but have refused to adapt to the operational cost-containment structure that must come with operating as the private industry does. It’s unhealthy for years to run as a bureaucratic operation but expect the payout of a private company that just launched an IPO.

As to if Chicago will adopt this new policy, only time will tell. Having lived here for 4 years, I’ve been smacked around like a biaytch into the reality of Chicago Mob-run politics, i.e. the citizen’s choice doesn’t amount to squat. Viva Chi-Town!!!