Those of us who promote good government for a living are having a hard time maintaining an upbeat attitude these days.

On Sept. 22, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel laid out an ambitious plan to attack the city’s epidemic of violence—he certainly talked the talk—but walking the walk is much more complicated, expensive and daunting.

More well trained cops and new programs to replace hopelessness with hope will cost a couple hundred million dollars.

On top of the hundreds of millions in higher water, sewer and real estate taxes the City Council already laid on property owners to stabilize underfunded pension plans.

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