River Cities Reader notices Jacobs

As predicted by a commenter a couple days ago, the current issue of the River Cities Reader contains an article on the panel put together to jump-start the construction of the WIU riverfront campus project in Moline. The piece contains quotes from Sen. Jacobs as well as the chair of the committee, Rick Baker, president and CEO of the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce, and WIU officials.

“The government is not really in the business of building things, and private entrepreneurs are,” [Jacobs] continued, “so I’m going to call on them to help us build this project.”

That's true. From what I see, the government is in the business of financing the building of things. Private entrepreneurs are in the business of doing the work and then reaping the profits, evidently. Not a bad gig if you can get it. The hardest part is actually getting the state to pay you what they said they would and when they said they would.

Seems like if businesses are out of work, the state is more than happy to get them some. But if you or I are out of a job, we're just welfare loafers who should have what little benefits that are still available cut short.

The only hinky thing about such private/public deals is that it's hard to imagine that private concerns are going to pony up millions without getting one hell of a benefit in return. There's nothing wrong with say, Deere coughing up some money and getting the engineering courses they need in return. That not only benefits Deere, but it benefits the students and school as well.

I can't wait to find out who the donors are and what they expect in return, that is IF that quid pro quo is ever made public. What those benefits are is what makes the difference between a great civic achievement and borderline corrupt sweet-heart corporate welfare.