The Nation's Pulse
Boom-Boom Town
Remember the company town? Thomson, Illinois, is taking that to a new level, as it’s soon to become known for the company it keeps.
Remember the factory town? This was a staple of Americana in the years when mines and foundries were the heart of the national economy. Often the town existed beforehand, dwindling as new machinery made agrarian labor obsolete. The plant sprouted as a savior, providing employment for idle hands outside the devil’s workshop. They might even be manufacturing the very tractors that chased them from the fields.
Other times, particularly in mining, the industrial complex might be erected in the middle of nowhere, if nowhere was vast enough. The town would grow around it like a carousel. The burgeoning area would attract people out of luck and place them out of context. Occasionally a communal spirit might develop in spite of the history or because of it, as shared fate circulated warmth between hearts.
In literature, what romance such groupings held in the hands of Bret Harte and Mark Twain (who incidentally hated each other rabidly) gave way to the grim resentment of later authors. Grounded in the fin-de-siècle labor movement, they saw these townships as instruments of subjugation. The worker was underpaid, as the company trapped him by a mortgage from its banking wing, then overcharged him in its monopolistic local retail establishments.
Housing was drab and drabber, culture was gray and grayer and recreation was flat and flatter. Townspeople were bred in obscurity, toiled in mediocrity and died in anonymity. “And after it rains there’s a rainbow, and all of the colors are black, it’s not that the colors aren’t there, it’s just imagination they lack, everything’s the same back in my little town,” thus spake Simon and Garfunkel.
Well, good news, I suppose, if you were rooting for a comeback. The state of Illinois, we are told, is ecstatic over the impending renaissance of the homey burg of Thomson (population 1,659 in 816 housing units, do the math). Until hence this lovely locale had wallowed in malaise. Folks looked longingly at the abandoned prison hulking in their midst, nostalgic for the days when it brimmed with malfeasants and malefactors of all stripes. The kinky killers of old, the rapacious rapists, the gun-toters, the knife-wielders, were all gone, and with them the cheery jobs of seeing to their welfare. Where have you gone, Joe Columbo (Simon and Garfunkel again)?
Now they may rejoice once more, beams the Senator. Happy days are here again, croons the Governor. Salvation has arrived, chirps the Mayor. Yes, indeed, courtesy of our kindly Uncle Sam, we have a boatload of murderers imported all the way from Afghanistan. These merchants of death will breathe life into your moribund economy. Three thousand jobs, they say, a ratio of two or three per terrorist.
Such an uplifting story. This is hope and change for real people. The beheaders will be heading into our backyard at millions of dollars per capita. American creativity need not languish in desuetude any longer; it can be invested in the art and science of securing expatriate al Qaeda heroes. Who said that suicide bombing can’t have a happy ending?
Seriously, no one in his right mind thinks this is a good idea, but people in their left minds are insisting. They have clearly bought the cooperation of local officialdom by applying some of those handy stimulus funds. While the rest of the country recoils in horror at the prospect of importing captured terrorists onto our mainland, this charade of mock gratitude is enacted by these chieftains. The pols trump the polls.
I blame Bush and Cheney almost as much as I do Obama. They had six years to figure this thing out and they chose to hand off to the next guy. And when your successor is a failure, your work joins his in going down the drain. One thing about those small towns, each person had to stand up to his or her responsibility. You cleared your plate but you did not wash your hands. Not us urban sophisticates though; unable to get mad we have instead gone mad.
Now the Democrats, champions of the underdog, are celebrating rural America by giving them work knitting prayer rugs and whatnot. The horny-handed man of toil will finally get his due in the land of Obamutopia. We may feel safe in knowing America will not let its guards down. There are plenty of jobs taking care of the refugees from Guantanamo Bay: it takes a village.
About the Author
Jay D. Homnick, commentator and humorist, is a frequent contributor to The American Spectator. He also writes for Human Events. Here he speaks at the Rally for Religious Freedom in Miami on June 8, 2012.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (68) | Leave a comment
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Karibou Kid| 12.18.09 @ 6:42AM
Politicians are whores.
The sad thing is, most of them are such cheap whores.
Melvin| 12.18.09 @ 8:32AM
All the powers that be are touting what a huge job generating machine this will be by bringing the barbaric savages to our shores.
"Oh, this is just terrific, it is going to create, 1500, no 3000, no 4000 new jobs to this one town by incarcerating this animals.
Then if that is the case then why isn't every other community that is housing domestic convicts rolling in the green?
Various Governors across this land are reducing prisoner sentences, or outright discharging prisoners because whatever state is running out of money to keep those convicted in prison.
So which is a true statement? Bringing Muslim murders to our land is a jobs stimulus and domestic criminals are not. Definite paradox I would think.
Roy| 12.18.09 @ 3:05PM
As usual, the answer is, it'll create jobs, it just won't create salaries. You the taxpayer are going to have to do that, for which you are going to obtain something of no value, and therefore you are going to get poorer.
"Creating jobs" = "wasting money".
The Bishop| 12.18.09 @ 9:20AM
Politicians give whoredom a bad name.
Bohred| 12.18.09 @ 9:21AM
How can anyone think that this "creates" jobs. These are Government Jobs. The paychecks come from the tax base, the tax base is a burden imposed on productive people. If we killed these detainees it would be cheaper for our society: we don't because we have laws that define us and that we obey.
It is a sad statement of modern thought that anyone could promote the staffing of a prison as "creating" jobs. Mining creates jobs, steel making, auto production, farming, any kind of positive value conversion "creates" jobs.
The real shame, is the ideologues in the White House not only do not understand this, they want to impose impediments to real job creation by imposing their ideas of social fairness and environmental fear. That is the real reason they will fail. They will either be voted out or bring us all down.
Roy| 12.18.09 @ 4:26PM
Staffing of a prison, mining, steel making, auto production and farming all create jobs.
The difference is, the latter four also create salaries.
james| 1.26.10 @ 11:28PM
I agree "Creating job" I think Government has nothing to do with this, we have to pay them from our pockets. Most illegal aliens are unskilled or low-skilled. The Nobel Prize-winning, liberal economist Paul Krugman has written, "Unfortunately, low-skill immigrants don't pay enough taxes to cover the cost of the benefits they receive.” That means American taxpayers must heavily subsidize the costs of services to newcomers. The financial burden on taxpayers occurs in many ways.and now an other burden.it is not fair statement that anyone could promote the staffing of a prison as "creating" jobs.
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Water Boy| 12.18.09 @ 10:23AM
If Contessa Brewer was tortured by muslim extremists,,,oh never mind. She would just blame Bush.
george| 12.18.09 @ 10:44AM
if filling jails (like Thompson, IL) is stimulis...I say build more jails and put the "crims" away on hard time not out on early release.
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Jim O'Brien| 12.19.09 @ 7:12AM
Why is Illinois a better place than Gitmo to keep terrorists? Instead of moving them, why not execute them? Ditto for the NYC trials.
Oldefarte| 12.19.09 @ 3:15PM
Thompson, Illinois residents would be wise to reflect upon what happened to New York City inhabitants on 9/11/01; and then consider if their wished-for economic benefits might be then worth it!!!!!!
Jeremiah| 12.19.09 @ 4:03PM
An old college friend of mine is in the Illinois Legislature. He told me the most influential commentator there is a guy named Richard Miller who writes a blog every day that everyone in government reads - and that that blog (called Capitol Fax) has been completely in favor of Thompson. So I took a look at it and pulled up archive stuff on the prison. It looks reasonable - and pretty thorough - if you just read the postings. But you have got to read the comments.
If Miller is the best Illinois has, that really explains why Obama is having such a hard time nationally. The guy (Miller) is a completely intolerant goof. He won't argue the substance of Gitmo North, just calls anybody against it a fearmonger. He even jumps in the comments on his own blog to insult anyone who disagrees with him. It's more intolerant and ideologically hardline than the Daily Kos. If my friend is right and this really is a powerhouse in Illinois, than the difference is that this one is the dominant source of political information in that state.
It really does explain a lot. Obama was obviously used to a press that was just his press office in Illinois and thought it would be the same in Washington. As bad as the Washington press is, it sure is a lot more independent than that Illinois blog is. And there is competition and people pay attention on the national stage. But now I get why Obama thinks the jobs of the press is to be his cheerleader - it's what they are in Illinois. (After reading it, I thought my friend might be joking, but he assures me he is not. Look it up. It's really bad - though designed well.) So we bring terrorists to America and there is nothing to see here. Wow.
reads1| 12.20.09 @ 4:15PM
I'M all for the Thomson prison deal, if the deal has a clause that all future Congress persons and Senators that commit crimes are also sent there. IE: Rangel, Jefferson, Franken, for posing as a Senator, along with Reid, Geitner and all the other "Chicago Thugs" and tax cheats in the Prez's cabinet and czardom.
JimE| 12.20.09 @ 6:13PM
Illinois is just a tesing ground for Reichfuher-SS Rahm's in and improved labor camp. Just think what the nazis could have accomplished with a Jew in charge.
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If Miller is the best Illinois has, that really explains why Obama is having such a hard time nationally. The guy (Miller) is a completely intolerant goof. He won't argue the substance of Gitmo North, just calls anybody against it a fearmonger. He even jumps in the comments on his own blog to insult anyone who disagrees with him. It's more intolerant and ideologically hardline than the Daily Kos. If my friend is right and this really is a powerhouse in Illinois, than the difference is that this one is the dominant source of political information in that state.
coolpete| 1.4.10 @ 1:30AM
Illinois is just a tesing ground for Reichfuher-SS Rahm's in and improved labor camp. Just think what the nazis could have accomplished with a Jew in charge.
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alyssa| 1.7.10 @ 11:53PM
Various Governors across this land are reducing prisoner sentences, or outright discharging prisoners because whatever state is running out of money to keep those convicted in prison.
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mario| 1.9.10 @ 9:10AM
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coolpete| 1.12.10 @ 1:12PM
Illinois is just a tesing ground for Reichfuher-SS Rahm's in and improved labor camp. Just think what the nazis could have accomplished with a Jew in charge.
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coolpete| 1.24.10 @ 2:13AM
Illinois is just a tesing ground for Reichfuher-SS Rahm's in and improved labor camp. Just think what the nazis could have accomplished with a Jew in charge.
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coolpete| 1.25.10 @ 9:11AM
I'M all for the Thomson prison deal, if the deal has a clause that all future Congress persons and Senators that commit crimes are also sent there. IE: Rangel, Jefferson, Franken, for posing as a Senator, along with Reid, Geitner and all the other "Chicago Thugs" and tax cheats in the Prez's cabinet and czardom.
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"Creating job" I think Government has nothing to do with this, we have to pay them from our pockets. Most illegal aliens are unskilled or low-skilled. The Nobel Prize-winning, liberal economist Paul Krugman has written, "Unfortunately, low-skill immigrants don't pay enough taxes to cover the cost of the benefits they receive.” That means American taxpayers must heavily subsidize the costs of services to newcomers. The financial burden on taxpayers occurs in many ways.and now an other burden.it is not fair statement that anyone could promote the staffing of a prison as "creating" jobs.
Steph Robbins| 1.27.10 @ 11:47PM
Although only 19% of Americans think that Obama deserve the Noble Prize but it has no concern with the policies of the Ruling Party. I think he is the perfect man to lead Americans in this global financial crises. Before saying anything Sarah Palin must look back, previously their party served US for 2 presidential rounds, and I think its a sufficient time to bring a solid economy. There are many faults, wrong steps on their part. Let Obama and his coworker work best for the nation and I hope they will move the nations towards growth. And all other debates are not more than clean jokes.
This is not the time to criticize, as one has to rule and let him work and we must coordinate with him in this regard. Thanks
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Michael John| 1.29.10 @ 9:18PM
This is the time of recession, so I think we must have patience to bother certain problems. This situation cannot can be changed in a one night, a lot efforts in this regard. Whether is eligible or not for the Noble Prize but I think we must let them work, as the results cannot be visible in a one day.
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darkvince| 2.8.10 @ 2:24PM
If Miller is the best Illinois has, that really explains why Obama is having such a hard time nationally.
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Highmom| 2.9.10 @ 11:29AM
Obamites say that he has his finger on the pulse and is closely in touch with the heart of the people. Only time will tell - but he has a legacy of bad decision making to overcome.
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Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Poptropica Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you.Poptropica. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
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Getting Hercules to Help You
Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. poptropica
Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you.poptropica
. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
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You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need to jump up when the Hydra is about to strike. He will rear one of his heads back to attack and his eyes will bulge out.Poptropica When this happens, jump up in the air and then try to land on top of his head. That head will get knocked out. When all five heads get knocked out, the Hydra will be asleep and you can click on him to get one of the scales. poptropica
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ID| 6.27.11 @ 11:31AM
Miller is never the best in Illinois has,no wonder Obama is having such a hard.
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