Let's try capitalism

Swami, what's going to happen with Wrigley Field and will it still be called that in the future? I think it's good idea that the state might buy the stadium to protect it for all of us. Signed, Kinky in Kildeer.

Ah, where to begin, Kink?

Swami wishes to take a short ride down an alley on the topic and point out how, once again against all logical odds, former Gov. Jim Thompson is right in the middle of insipid stupidity once again.

First, he was an official member in bad standing of the see-no-evil board of directors for the Sun-Times conglomerate all the while Conrad Black was robbing the company blind. During the episode, Thompson apparently was in a coma and, like Sgt. Schulz, saw nothing, NOTH-ING!!!

As seamy and venal as that bank robbery was, the larger strategic sin was putting the city of Chicago at risk of being a one newspaper town and making Sam Zell the only loud voice around. You think Chicago public ethics stink now; just wait until the Trib is the only show in town and Zell has his hands lodged in Charlie McCarthy's rear ribcage.

And then we have the sorry spectacle of Thompson shepherding old crook Gov. George Ryan around from courthouse to prison while trying to work his pro-bono mojo to save the old reprobate thief. As part of his attorney's role, Thompson routinely pronounced how Ryan was actually innocent and that sending him to prison was very unfair.

And now, once again, it's Thompson in his governor's easy chair afterlife as head of the state facilities board that is railroading the purchase of Wrigley Field to benefit...hmmm...let's think...ah yes, Sam Zell again.

Here's the long and short. There's nothing wrong with the privately owned old ball park that private funds from the very rich private owner cannot fix. Isn't that the way capitalism is supposed to work? Why the taxpayers must face being dragged into the future of Wrigley Field is a possibility beyond all common sense.

You buy a neat old car. It needs a new carb and a crank shaft to make the flivver run better. OK, go buy the items. That's the deal with acquiring venerable antiques worth preserving. But how does it compute that innocent bystanders in the deal - in this case, the taxpayers of Illinois - should be dragged into the transaction?

As for the not-so-subtle threat that, unless taxpayers pony up, some evil force will tear down the stadium? It's the worst sort of cynical manipulation. Of all the assets enfolded into the Cubs franchise, only that pile of bricks has any provable value. Even if they could do it, no real estate magnate would tear down the Statue of Liberty to a build a condo. But he might get more money for a good paint job on the Old Gal if he threatened to replace her.

As far as Thompson is concerned, let us tally up the scorecard.

He was a mediocre governor, a lousy corporate board member, an unsuccessful attorney in a high-profile but winnable case, and now a spendthrift public looter genuflecting at the foot of a billionaire.

Anyone see a pattern?

Even by Illinois political standards, that's quite a career.