Politicians Create Permanent Handout Dependency in Cook County

For decades, a staple tactic for politicians seeking guaranteed votes has been the implementation of government giveaways, often under the guise of tackling poverty or systemic injustice. The most recent example comes from Cook County, Illinois – the nation’s second-largest county and home to Chicago – where local commissioners have extended a successful pilot program into a permanent guaranteed basic income initiative.

The decision marks a significant expansion for this controversial program. While previously funded as part of an emergency response during the Great Biden Covidpalooza Free Money Avalanche (which saw $500 monthly checks sent to 3,250 households via lottery), now Cook County officials have unanimously approved funding using local tax dollars, ensuring its continuation indefinitely.

This move raises serious questions about priorities and long-term economic impact. Critics argue that the transition from a temporary pilot post-COVID to a permanent fixture funded by county coffers represents not progress but merely replacing federal largesse with local government dependency. The promise is simple: monthly checks sent directly to qualifying households who have already experienced this financial intervention.

Proponents point to early survey findings, suggesting three-quarters of participants felt more financially secure and 94% used the funds for emergencies or essentials. However, details are opaque – no data on how many surveys were returned was released, and crucially, the specific questions guiding these “findings” remained undisclosed until recently.

This lack of transparency is a major concern for critics. While politicians tout the program’s benefits as addressing genuine hardship, there are concerns it merely creates another generation reliant on public assistance while discouraging work habits – replacing earned income with guaranteed dependency. The irony seems lost that this program replaces federal stimulus money (which came from taxpayers) now funded directly by local government.

“The findings released by the commission in April showed… improved their mental health and lowered their stress levels,” officials claim. Yet, without knowing if questions probed participants’ spending habits on non-essential items or how much of any work-related income was replaced by these regular payments, it’s impossible to assess true economic impact. The program appears designed more for votes than meaningful fiscal policy.

According to critics like those from the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI), this approach is fundamentally flawed. “Cook County is making its guaranteed income pilot permanent… committing millions to a failed strategy already shown to leave people with less work experience and lower earnings,” they warn, highlighting potential negative consequences on workforce participation long documented in similar initiatives.

The real issue appears to be that politicians aren’t interested in genuine results from social programs; they’re invested instead in the predictable outcomes: votes. This guaranteed income program replaces a temporary emergency measure funded by taxpayers with permanent dependency secured through local government budgets – ensuring consistent political support regardless of economic necessity or long-term viability.