The Staggeringly Stupid Six-Figure Problem Tearing Illinois Apart

July 26, 2017

WRITER

Illinois is $15 billion in debt --- and trying to borrow more money to get out of the hole. The state has been threatened with a downgrade to junk bond status by credit rating agencies after two years of spending without a state budget.

Wednesday on radio, Glenn listed examples of the state's reckless spending on salaries:

• Chicago auto pound supervisor: $144,453

• State correctional facility nurse: $254,741

• Junior college president: $465,420

• University doctors: $1.6 million

• Deputy police chief: $240,917 (with overtime)

• School superintendent: $398,229

“You're going to love this one. If you’re a barber in the prison, you make $100,000,” Glenn said.

“Well, I mean, I’m sure they give really special haircuts,” Co-host Pat Gray joked.

Why Illinois Is In Trouble — 63,000 Public Employees With $100,000+ Salaries Cost Taxpayers $10B

There are thousands and thousands of people on the government payroll in Illinois:

• 20,295 teachers and school administrators

• 10,676 rank-and-file workers and managers in Chicago alone

• 9,567 college and university employees

• 8,640 State of Illinois employees

• 8,817 small town city and village employees, including 84 municipal managers out-earning every U.S. governor.

Additionally, overtime is a huge expense for the Prairie State. In 2016, Chicago alone paid $283 million in overtime to 1,000 employees, making an extra $40,000 each on top of salaries. Altogether, Illinois directs around $12 billion in cash compensation to six-figure government workers, including federal employees.

GLENN: Oh, and some really good news. Especially if you live in Illinois. Illinois is in trouble. It is teetering on junk bond status. So what does that mean? That means the state's about to collapse. Why is it in trouble? Oh, my gosh. We'll show you the stats of Illinois, and we begin there right now.

Open the books.com has done some research. It's on Forbes now. Why Illinois is in trouble.

Well, as they're flirting with junk bond status and the states -- the courts have said "You have to pay all of the pensions" let me tell you about some of the expenses that are not the pensions. These are current expenditures.

Right now, they have 63,000 government employees bringing in six figure and higher salaries. Open the books.com went. Illinois consistently one of the worst offenders. They have an auto pound supervisor in Chicago. Guy who runs the auto pound. Making $144,453. If you want to be a nurse in a prison.

PAT: Wow. Just where they impound vehicles?

GLENN: Uh-huh. Well, he's a manager.

PAT: Wow. That's a good gig.

GLENN: That's only 144,000. How about this? If you're a nurse at a state correctional facility.

JEFFY: Dangerous.

GLENN: You're he didn't up to $254,741. A nurse. Junior college. Junior college presidents making $465,420. There's university doctors -- okay. Remember the nurses were 254. How much are the doctors? University doctors earning $1.6 million and 84 city managers or mayors outearning every single U.S. governor.

PAT: Wow.

GLENN: But that's nothing.

JEFFY: They have to do an entire city.

GLENN: They have 20,295 teachers and school administrators that are paid like the superintendent Joyce Carmine 398,229. Park schools district teacher 384 --

PAT: Wait, just for a teacher?

GLENN: Uh-huh.

PAT: A teacher is making $384,000?

GLENN: 20,295 teachers and school administrators. The top five salaries are in the south suburbs and not the affluent north shore. 10,686 rank and file workers in Chicago including 216,200 for rob Emmanuel, 400,000 for Ginger Evans, commissioner of aviation, includes a $100,000 bonus on top of their $400,000 salary. A deputy police chief made 240,917, and that's with 146,860 in overtime. Ramona Perkins.

JEFFY: This is a good gig right here.

GLENN: Pulled down police communications operator. 121,318 and overtime of 196,726.

JEFFY: Almost $200,000 of overtime.

GLENN: Her salary is 121. Her overtime is 196.

PAT: Wow.

GLENN: And, by the way, she's a operator -- police communications operator. That's what she's doing.

JEFFY: That's an important job.

GLENN: You have 9,567 college and university employees, including the southern Illinois junior college power couple Dale Chapman and Linda Chapman. The pair combined make $682,000 for working at Louis and Clark community college.

PAT: Doing what? What do they do?

GLENN: I think they run it.

PAT: Okay.

GLENN: I think they run it.

And then you have Fady Sharbell who is making 1.58 million.

PAT: Wait, doing what?

GLENN: These are college and university employers --

PAT: Employees.

GLENN: I'm sorry. Employees.

PAT: 1.58 million?

GLENN: You have Constantine making 1.4 million.

JEFFY: These are the doctors.

GLENN: Universal Illinois, you have 8,640 state of Illinois employees, including a contractual worker at the newly created department of innovation and technology making 258,000. You're going to love this one. If you're a barber in the prison, you make $100,000.

PAT: Well, I mean, I'm sure they give really special haircuts there.

GLENN: Wait, wait, wait. They're very hard.

PAT: And you want the inmates to be stylish; right?

GLENN: You do.

PAT: You want them to look good.

GLENN: So you have $100,000 barber at the prisons making $100,000.

PAT: That's crazy.

GLENN: But you have also at the prisons, the quote teacher of barbering who also makes over $100,000.

PAT: Well, how are the barbers going to know how to cut hair without a barber teacher?

STU: How can a barber barb?

PAT: I'm not usually shocked by this but those are shocking statistics. That is --

GLENN: In total, there is roughly $12 billion in cash compensation flowing to six-figure government workers when counting the 9,031 federal employees based in Illinois.

PAT: And then they're saying why are our finances so bad in this state? How do we go bankrupt?

STU: Well, and it goes even deeper than that because after these people retire with $185,000 salaries, they get pensions based off of those salaries that carry them for the rest of their lives.

PAT: Yeah, they'll get three-fourths or two-thirds of their salary for the rest of their lives. That's a heck of a lot of money.

GLENN: Some Illinois K through 12 schools are spiking salaries and padding pensions. Data reveals nearly 30,000 teachers and administrators earned $100,000 plus. However, 20,295 only -- so 20,295 out of the 30,000 are actually employed. The other 9,305 are retired and receiving their six-figure pension.

This is absolutely unbelievable. And it's not going away because all of them have unions. And so the state is saying "You have to pay the pensions because the unions made the deal with the government. They're still making this pensions. They're still paying those pensions. They're still making new covenants with the guys coming in now saying okay. Yeah, I'm going to pay you $100,000 now. But I'll pay you 196,000 in overtime to get your pension up so you'll have a six-figure pension for the rest of your life. Oh, and you only have to work here 20 years.

STU: Think about how -- we -- a lot of conservatives will say pensions are okay. And a good idea. And, you know, look, you enter into a situation where you -- that's part of the deal, and I honestly understand that. But what they're doing is telling you, you know, I'll pay you Thursday or Tuesday for a hamburger today.

GLENN: I'll pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.

STU: They're just saying we're not going to pay you what you're worth now. What we're going to do is send this out over a long, long period of time so you get paid for a lot of years that you do nothing.

That is not a good philosophy.

POLL: Was Malaysia Flight 370 taken by a WORMHOLE?

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It's hard to know what's real and what's fake anymore.

With the insanity that seems to grow every day, it is becoming more and more difficult to tell what's true and what's not, what to believe, and what to reject. Anything seems possible.

That's why Glenn had Ashton Forbes on his show, to explore the fringe what most people would consider impossible. Forbes brought Glenn a fascinating but far-out theory that explains the decade-old disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 along with riveting footage that supposedly corroborates his story. Like something out of a sci-fi novel, Forbes made the startling claim that Flight 370 was TELEPORTED via a U.S. military-made wormhole! As crazy as that sounds, the video footage along with Forbes' scientific research made an interesting, if not compelling case.

But what do you think? Do you believe that the U.S. Government can create wormholes? Did they use one to abduct Flight 370? Is the government hiding futuristic tech from the rest of the world? Let us know in the poll below:

Does the military have the capability to create wormholes?

Is the U.S. military somehow responsible for what happened to Malaysia Flight 370?

Is the military in possession of technology beyond what we believe to be possible?

Do you think American military tech is ahead of the other superpowers?

Do you think there would be negative consequences if secret government technology was leaked?

5 videos that reveal the WOKE GARBAGE being taught to our kids

School today is not like it used to be...

Glenn recently covered how our medical schools have been taken over by gender-affirming, anti-racist, woke garbage, and unfortunately, it doesn't stop there. Education at all levels has been compromised by progressive ideology. From high-level university academics to grade school, American children are constantly being bombarded by the latest backward propaganda from the left. Luckily, in the age of Zoom classes and smartphones, it's harder for teachers to get away their agenda in secret. Here are five videos that show just how corrupt schools really are:

Woke teacher vandalizes pro-life display

Professor Shellyne Rodriguez, an art professor at Hunter College in New York, was caught on camera having a violent argument with a group of pro-life students who were tabling on campus. Rodriguez was later fired from her position after threatening a reporter from the New York Post, who was looking into this incident, with a machete.

Woke professor argues with student after he called police heroes

An unnamed professor from Cypress College was captured having a heated discussion with a student over Zoom. The professor verbally attacked the student, who had given a presentation on "cancel culture" and his support of law enforcement. The university later confirmed that the professor was put on leave after the incident.

Professor goes on Anti-Trump rant

Professor Olga Perez Stable Cox was filmed by a student going on an anti-Trump rant during her human-sexuality class at Orange Coast College. This rant included Professor Cox describing Trump's election as "an act of terrorism”. The student who filmed this outburst was suspended for an entire semester along with several other punishments, including a three-page apology essay to Professor Cox explaining his actions. Orange Coast College continues to defend Professor Cox, citing the student code of conduct.

Unhinged teacher caught on video going on left-wing political rant

Lehi High School teacher Leah Kinyon was filmed amid a wild, left-wing rant during a chemistry class. Kinyon made several politically charged remarks, which included encouraging students to get vaccinated and calling President Trump a "literal moron." Despite her claims that the school admins "don't give a crap" about her delusional ramblings, a statement from Lehi High School reveals that she "is no longer an employee of Alpine School District."

Far-left Berkeley law professor melts down when a Senator asks her if men can get pregnant

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Berkeley Law Professor Khiara M. Bridges was asked by Missouri Senator Josh Hawley to clarify earlier statements involving "people with a capacity for pregnancy." The senator's line of questioning is met with a long-winded, frantic rant accusing the senator of being transphobic. When Sen. Hawley tries to clarify further, Professor Bridges makes the outrageous claim that such a line of questioning somehow leads to trans suicides.

Woke ideology trumps medicine in America's top 5 medical schools

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Progressive ideology has infected our most prestigious medical schools and is seeping into our medical system.

As Glenn covered in his latest TV special, "diversity, equity and inclusion" (DEI), and leftist rhetoric have overtaken science and medicine as the focus of medical schools across the nation. The next generation of doctors and nurses is being force-fed DEI and "anti-racist" nonsense at the expense of slipping standards. This has led to a decline in people's trust in the medical industry and for good reason. Woke ideology has already been the driving force behind at least one medical malpractice case, and more are undoubtedly on the way.

All of this is being spearheaded by universities, which have integrated DEI practices into the fabric of their programs. Our top medical schools now require students and staff to participate in mandatory DEI and "anti-racist" classes and training and are adjusting the standards to reflect this new shift in focus. Here are 5 statements from the top American medical schools that show that medicine is no longer their primary focus:

Harvard Medical School

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Taken from the Harvard University "Unconscious bias" resource page:

“As members of HMS, we each have a responsibility to create an inclusive community that values all individuals. Barriers to inclusion may include assumptions we make about others that guide our interactions. Recognizing our Unconscious Bias is a critical step in developing a culture of equity and inclusion within HMS and in our partnerships with other communities.”

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Rob Carr / Staff | Getty Images

Pulled from the JHM Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity blog:

“One-hour live, virtual unconscious bias training ... [w]ill be required at all Johns Hopkins Health System (JHHS) entities for managers and above; hospital nurse leaders; credentialed providers (such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners); and for school of medicine faculty and trainees (including residents, fellows, medical and graduate students, and research postdocs), as well as those at a manager level or above.”

Stanford University School of Medicine

Philip Pacheco / Stringer | Getty Images

Found on the Stanford Medicine Commission on Justice and Equity page:

“The Commission on Justice and Equity—composed of external and internal leaders, experts, and advocates—represents an institution-wide, collaborative effort to dismantle systemic racism and discrimination within our own community and beyond.”

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

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Taken from the Penn Medicine Commitment to Inclusion, Equity, and Antiracism site:

“We openly acknowledge the role of structural forces of oppression as primary drivers of the disparate health outcomes. We believe that working to reverse the underrepresentation of historically excluded groups is critical in achieving equitable health outcomes. While this is an ongoing journey for our program, here are some of the tangible steps we have taken to achieve an inclusive culture”

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Jeenah Moon / Stringer | Getty Images

Pulled from the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, Justice, and Anti-Racism page:

"Courses are being revised to be more inclusive and informed by the key principle of race as a social construct and a social determinant of health. We are training faculty that Anti-Racism is not an add-on to a course. Anti-Racism is a pedagogy - a manner of teaching, designing courses, and measuring learning outcomes. We make sure that the classroom environment is inclusive by holding space for respectful conversation and ensuring that we address any “classroom ruptures”– a disorienting dilemma or situation when a bias or microaggression that may occur, providing real time opportunities for professional development, learning, and growth. Racist actions and remarks are never tolerated at Columbia University and will be dealt with following established protocols."

Critical theory destroys truth and justice

Editor's note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

Critical theory once stood out as the absurd progressive notion that it is. Now, its maxims are becoming an integral part of ordinary political discourse. The more you repeat a lie, the more you will believe it, and this is the very dangerous place in which we find ourselves today.

Take this critical theory maxim as an example: If we desire justice, we must sometimes champion what may appear superficially as injustice. It's a necessary evil, if you will, the necessity of “controlled injustice.”

By using truth through fabrication and controlled injustice for justice, we’ll save the republic. We’ll be acting in a noble way.

This definition of justice is defined by the “oppressed,” not the “oppressor.” It is the greatest happiness for the greatest number. To achieve this justice, however, we need to endorse acts on occasion that, while seemingly unjust, serve a higher purpose. It will ensure the stability and the unity of our republic, and this may manifest in ways that seem contradictory to our values. But these are the necessary shadows to cast light on “true justice.”

And isn’t that what we are all after, anyway?

Here’s another critical theory maxim: Sometimes we find the truth through fabrication. Our pursuit of truth sometimes requires a strategic use of falsehoods. The truth is a construct that has been shaped and tailored to promote the well-being of the collective.

We sometimes need to accept and propagate lies designed by "the system” — not the old system, but the system that we’re now using to replace the old to get more justice through injustice and more truth through fabrication.

We’re engaging in a higher form of honesty. When we fabricate, it’s for the right reason. We are reaching up to the heavens fighting for a higher sort of honesty. To fortify the truth, we occasionally must weave a tapestry of lies. Each thread, essential for the greater picture, will ultimately define our understanding and ensure our unity under this infallible wisdom.

The election is coming up. Does this maxim sound familiar? Many think it is imperative that we secure our republic through election control to maintain our republic. Sometimes, we might need to take actions that by traditional standards might be questionable.

The act of securing elections requires cheating. It's not mere deception. It is a noble act of safeguarding our way of life. We're on the verge of losing this democracy, and without deception, we will lose it.

To ensure it doesn't fall into the hands of those we know will destroy it, we may have to make a few fabrications. We're fabricating stories to be able to control or secure the republic through our elections. By using truth through fabrication and controlled injustice for justice, we'll save the republic. Therefore, we'll be acting in a noble way. Stealing an election from those who wish to harm our society is truly an act of valor and an essential measure to protect our values and ensure the continuation of our just society.

If we desire justice, we must sometimes champion what may appear superficially as injustice.

I know it's a paradox of honor through dishonor. But in this context, by embracing the dishonor, we achieve the highest form of honor, ensuring the stability and the continuation of our great republic.

Let this be heard, far and wide, as a great call to patriotic action. As we advance, let each of us, citizens of this great and honorable republic, consider these principles. Not as abstract or paradoxical but as practical guides to daily life. Embrace the necessity of controlled injustice, the utility of lies, the duty to secure our electoral process, and the honor and apparent dishonor. These are not merely strategies for survival. They are prerequisites for our prosperity.

We all have to remember that justice is what our leaders define, that truth is what our party tells us. Our republic stands strong on the values of injustice for justice, honor through dishonor, and the fabrication of truths. To deviate from this path is to jeopardize the very fabric of our society. Strength through unity; unity through strength.

We've heard this nonsense for so long. But now, this nonsense is becoming an instituted reality, and we are entering perilous times. Don't be fooled by the narratives you will hear during the march to November. Never let someone convince you that the ends justify the means, that a little bit of injustice is needed to achieve a broader, collective vision of justice, that truth sometimes requires fabricated lies and narratives. If we do, justice will cease to be justice, truth will cease to be truth, and our republic will be lost.