Say it again: "RIGHT WING EXTREMISM"
The repeated use of this phrase by politicians does not exempt them from accountability for their ineffective policies.
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
"What we've seen is a very raggedy form of right-wing extremism. Everyone knows that the right-wing extremism in this country has targeted democratically run cities and quite frankly and they have been quite intentional about going after democratically ran cities that are led by people of color."
"It's the same Republican right-wing extremism that stormed the capital, its the same right wing extremism that refuses to accept the results of the civil war. Its raggedy its disrespectful, its mean spirited."
When Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson took office on May 15, he inherited many challenges. The crime situation in Chicago remains a pressing issue. Overall, crime has risen by 39% this year, and violence involving school-age youth has seen historic increases since COVID-19. Even as murders and shootings saw a slight decline in 2022, this was part of a national trend and not a direct result of any Chicago-specific policies.
Chicago also faces a challenging financial situation. The city is grappling with a projected budget shortfall of between $306 million and $951 million for 2024. Debt service and pension contributions consume a significant portion of the city budget, and the property tax levy has doubled over the past decade. Despite this, Chicago's pension debt remains one of the highest in the nation. Johnson, who pledged to refrain from raising property taxes and to invest in public schools, housing, and transit, faces the complicated task of balancing these commitments with the city's fiscal realities.
The state of Chicago Public Schools further reflects the city's struggles. Proficiency levels in reading and math are alarmingly low across various grades, with even worse outcomes for 'minority' and low-income students. Declining enrollment and increasing chronic absenteeism add to the district's woes.
This backdrop of challenges makes Mayor Johnson's recent statement appear disconnected from the city's internal issues. His attribution of the city's problems to "right-wing extremism" and its targeting of democratically run cities led by ‘people of color’ does not absolve his administration or previous city governments of their responsibility in addressing Chicago's deep-rooted problems. His comparison of this extremism to the forces that stormed the Capitol and those refusing to accept the Civil War's outcome does not directly address the urgent, tangible issues facing Chicagoans.
The ongoing difficulties in Chicago, spanning crime, financial instability, and failing public schools, require focused, local solutions and leadership that addresses these specific challenges. While external political forces undoubtedly shape the city's environment, the responsibility for local governance and effective policy implementation ultimately rests with the city's political leadership. Mayor Johnson's administration, like those before it, must confront these issues head-on to bring about meaningful change in the lives of Chicago residents.
Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, despite facing unprecedented challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened racial justice debates, was seen as out of touch with the city's urgent issues, particularly crime. Her tough stance and isolated political position, evidenced by dwindling support from key city stakeholders, contributed to her defeat.
Mayor Johnson’s administration, so far shows little promise in effectively tackling the city's deep-rooted problems. Just like his predecessor, the continuity of unaddressed issues underlines a systemic failure in Chicago's governance. The pressing question now is whether Johnson can break this cycle and steer Chicago towards a more hopeful and secure future. I have a feeling that may not be the case, especially with excuse making attitudes like the ones he seems to continuously have. I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
The challenges faced by Mayor Brandon Johnson in Chicago echo a similar pattern in New York City under Mayor Eric Adams. Both administrations, despite their unique contexts, have struggled with entrenched urban issues like crime, economic disparities, and education system inadequacies. This parallel invites a broader discussion on how we, as a nation, evaluate and respond to our civic leaders.
In recent years, we've seen a significant shift in the demographic landscape of political leadership, with more individuals of diverse ethnic backgrounds assuming positions of power in cities like Chicago, D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. This change marks a crucial step towards ‘inclusivity’ and ‘representation.’ However, the focus now needs to evolve beyond simply celebrating the diversity of leadership to critically assessing the performance and impact of these leaders, irrespective of their skin color or ethnic background.
Drawing a parallel with the NFL, where the evaluation of black quarterbacks and coaches is now predominantly based on their professional performance rather than their skin color, a similar approach should be applied in politics. The success or failure of mayors like Johnson and Adams should be assessed based on their job performance, the effectiveness of their policies, and their ability to address the complex challenges of their respective cities.
Criticism and appraisal of their tenure should be grounded in an objective analysis of their governance, not reduced to their skin tone, facial features, ethnic heritage, or even their political affiliation. As we've seen, individuals from diverse backgrounds can both succeed and fail in these roles. Recognizing this, our discourse and critique should be focused on the tangible outcomes of their policies and leadership strategies.
How can we shift our focus to the substantive qualities and actions of elected leaders as we move forward? Like in the NFL, where the performance of quarterbacks and coaches is measured on clear outcomes, shouldn't we also assess the performance of our elected officials based on merit? Can we move beyond a recurring pattern of excuses to a more objective evaluation of their accomplishments and failures?
Clayton Craddock is a devoted father of two, an accomplished musician, and a thought-provoker dedicated to Socratic questioning, challenging the status quo, and encouraging a deeper contemplation on a range of issues. Subscribe to Think Things Through HERE, and for inquiries and to connect, email him here: Clayton@claytoncraddock.com.
Let me see if I understand this correctly - the issues plaguing the cities that have been Democratically run for decades are the fault of recent Right Wing extremism?