Reclaim Illinois - Open Letter to State Employees

Everyone likes to be part of a winning team, a successful company or an effective organization. As a state employee I believe that words like winning, successful and effective should also be words that describe a public servant or a governmental entity. In fact, many public servants achieve this everyday quietly without any additional recognition or compensation of any kind. Now the reality, while words like successful and effective are great, ask yourself, is that how you feel as a state employee, is that what you think the perception is in the public eye? Unfortunately I would have to say NO in many cases!

Instead we get the jokes, the embarrassment and the dishonor of our association with corruption and laziness. We live in a reality of greed, selfishness and hunger for power. While we work hard, along side us are those there for no other reason than to line their pockets regardless of the cost to others. We work at a time when those whom we have entrusted to lead, from our former governor to select legislators and much leadership within state agencies, shamelessly perpetuate a culture of corruption.

We see our former Governor Rod Blagojevich hopping from TV show to TV show proclaiming his innocence while looking like a boob and being disturbingly misleading in the face of the evidence. We have heard for years of numerous decisions that fly in the face of common sense, from questionable contracts, partnerships and purchases to overall direction. We have had to put up with the insiders, political friends, spouses, girlfriends and even former elected officials receiving extremely high paying jobs as we get the brush off or even insulted. Then there is the added kick as those who are brought in operate with ulterior motives, ineptness, stupidity and/or arrogance as they execute their own agendas. Even in cases where there has been good effort it seems to only serve as a smoke screen for questionable activities.

I say enough is enough! All honorable state employees should unite! We should no longer allow scum, veiled as professionals, to come in and steal from us and the citizens of this state. We should speak out when we see wrongs, we should no longer fear and we should stand up and strive for the time when we can be proud public servants.

We need to realize that we have been entrusted with the funds and lives of the public and have a noble mission; we should be the loyal guardians, fighting and working every minute to ensure that the good of the citizen is always the first priority.

With some hard work, I believe that united, we will be collectively characterized as winning, successful and effective! Join me and let's do what it takes to Reclaim Illinois!

Patrick Beaird
www.ReclaimIllinois.com

P.S. To the insiders, political friends, spouses, girlfriends, former elected officials and even those once honorable employees who chose to defect for your own gain. Here is your chance to earn back some integrity by turning yourself in and owning up to your part in the culture of corruption. Quit the state job you don't deserve and thus finally contribute some redeeming effort to make this state a better place.

My writings may be freely reprinted in any newspaper, any other printed material, web site, etc. that helps get the word out and forwards the cause of honest and sincere government reform. However, PLEASE include my web site URL (www.ReclaimIllinois.com)