By Mark Glennon* | Wirepoints
When Ted Dabrowski was president here at Wirepoints, he constantly itched for a more activist role to focus on organization and coordination of various citizen groups around the state. That’s not really within our charter here, however, so Tuesday night he announced a new venture dedicated to that sorely needed mission.
It’s called Fight for Illinois, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization exerting grassroots pressure against the failed policies of this state. They’ve diagnosed the problem exactly right: Small and large citizen groups around the state have popped up, often with a similar agenda such as opposing unwanted building projects, bond issuances or tax hikes and resisting political indoctrination in schools.
Those groups, however, often lack the experience and information needed to beat the Illinois political establishment. Fight for Illinois will provide that know-how and research while helping groups share winning strategies. It is “not a news group, a think tank or a lobbying firm,” they say. “It’s an action group for all Illinoisans who want lower taxes, safer communities, local control and a return to common sense.”
Its core principles are as follows:
- Put taxpayers first. Cut spending. Lower taxes, lower costs.
- Unleash job creators. Cut red-tape, end cronyism.
- Return decision-making to families, communities. Reduce Springfield’s power.
- Embrace academic excellence. Reinstate merit, accountability. Enact school choice.
- Restore the rule of law. Punish criminals, political corruption.
Central to that mission is a free cellphone app, already available for Apple and coming shortly for Android. It will put the local facts and networking tools reformers need at their fingertips. We know from experience here at Wirepoints that easy access to that local data is a constant challenge. We are forever fielding questions from readers seeking things like their local school’s test scores, rankings on property tax rates and public salaries and pensions. The app will make that easily accessible. Initially, only Lake County and its pending sales tax referendum are loaded into the app, but other locations and issues will be added as new groups participate.
Read in here.
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.