May. 10, 2008 - Descending into Porta-hell with the porta-bote
OK, first off, take a wild gander where one registers boats in the
great state of Illinois. And yes, even a "bote" that folds to 4 inches thick needs to be
registered.
DMV? Nope. Department of Natural Resources? Guess again.
Currency Exchange.
What is Currency Exchange? Well, you know thost pay day advance
places on the corners of seedy neighborhoods? That's what Currency
Exchange is. Mr. Wonderful says that while he was there, he could have also
gotten a $100 advance on his paycheck for 13 days for $15.50
fee...this works out to something like 480% APR.
Now, why does the great state of IL register it's boats through the
privately owned Currency Exchange?
Anyone following the Rezko trial out there?
I'm pretty sure whomever bribed whichever governor to get the corner on the boat registrations
market did so well before Rezko, but the details are superfluous.
Pols have been selling patronage here for ages. It's no better than
it was at the peak of the gangster days. Just slightly more refined.
IL is a world unto itself. An unbelievably corrupt one.
Mr. Wonderful couldn't register the boat today which is a long tale in and of
itself but I think comes down to the fact that he didn't want to
falsify another person's signature nor pay a bribe. I am sure the
folks at Currency Exchange weren't quite sure what to do with him.
To be continued...
Blessings,
Holly
Comments
May. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Arby
As a born and raised Chicago northsider, reared under the reign of King Richard I, avid reader of the late Mike Royko, die hard Cub fan, and survivor of the great blizzard of '79, I read with sympathy and state, (yawn) "Business as usual!"
