For those of you who live outside Illinois, consider me to be your canary in a coal mine, reporting from Chicago, a city formerly run by moderate Daley-type Democrats, but which now is being taken over by the Militant Woke Far-Left. What is happening in Chicago (and generally in Illinois) could happen to the nation if we allow the Democrats to take power in 2020. The Chicago Teachers Union decided that an offer of a 16-24% pay raise for teachers who already were just about the most well-compensated in the country was not enough. That offer meant that the average salary for a teacher just five years out of college would increase to $100,000, all for only working only 40 weeks a year and receiving generous pension benefits when they retire as early as age 50. Instead of saying yes, the teachers decided to strike, causing great pain to students over the past two weeks. It appears that a deal has finally been reached, but only after the mayor caved to union demands that have nothing to...(Read Full Post)