Faith or Consequences

Faith can be a good thing. It is basically a belief system, a code of ethics. Everyone feels it for something or someone at any number of levels ranging from positive to negative with a myriad of consequences included.

For residents in IL-19, history does not provide much for their faith in change following the 2010 congressional redistricting. CQ Politics rolled out their crystal ball. They peaked. It cracked. No mention of the infamous name of John Shimkus from IL-19.

If the Democrats do control redistricting, they’ll be interested in further endangering Republicans Mark Steven Kirk and Peter Roskam . . .

Neither of these Republicans (as dubious as their behavior has been and quite consistantly) protected a sexual predator, hired staff from a fraudulent ex-governor (and then promoted one of them after skirting jail in exchange for her testimony), and inappropriately used a baseball analogy (among other things). Only one man achieve such high level of incompetence for his constituents: John Shimkus. The man generates bad memories for people just walking the Earth.

When it comes to the Earth, he does have it's best interests in mind: lots and lots of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Carbon dioxide is used by plants during photosynthesis to make sugars which may either be consumed again in respiration or used as the raw material to produce polysaccharides such as starch and cellulose, proteins and the wide variety of other organic compounds required for plant growth and development. It is produced during respiration by plants, and by all animals, fungi and microorganisms that depend on living and decaying plants for food, either directly or indirectly. It is, therefore, a major component of the carbon cycle. Carbon dioxide is generated as a by-product of the combustion of fossil fuels or the burning of vegetable matter, among other chemical processes. Large amounts of carbon dioxide are emitted from volcanoes and other geothermal processes such as hot springs and geysers and by the dissolution of carbonates in crustal rocks.

His diatribes during the past several months appear that another Late Triassic Epoch would make him a very happy camper indeed. Of course, it would create the next Jurassic Epoch he seems to demand -- a planet with lots and lots of planet life feeding on the CO2. Humans would come back into the scene again -- eventually. Just wait for it. Evolution takes millions of years.

On the John Shimkus Plan, the Earth survives happy and health as ever. Humans -- not so much. IL-19 residents had faith in redistricting for their continued survival. They need very little:

1. Fairness for potential congressional candidates after Redistricting -- Currently IL-15, IL-16, IL-19, etc. appear so gerrymandered that Democratic candidates have no chance. Candidates should have at least an even chance of winning. Also, Springfield should be in one congressional district not three.
2. A political career path for future candidates -- Those candidates genuinely interested in working for the best interests of the people could achieve the necessary name recognition to obtain the congressional seat they seek.
3. Long on bread-and-butter promises, short on deliveries to constituents -- It is glaringly obvious that rural GOP representatives at all levels talk values instead of quality of life issues. Nothing can change until there are significant changes in the map.

Potential Central and So. IL democratic congressional candidates deserve fairness in a redistricted map. Faithful people do not deserve living with the consequences of an ill-conceived gerrymandered map in perpetuity. Just look at the results.

There is only so much suffering that people should tolerate.