This is how we can get progressive ideas into action. If the country were to back the bid for the 2016 Chicago Olympics we could build some high speed rail and roll out prototypes for new green building and power supply. We would also have that added benefit of billions upon billions of dollars poured into the center of the country from all around the world... Am I biased or shouldn't this be a national goal? Do people outside the area even know that we've been trying for a long time to convince the IOC to allow us to host in the city that gave the world Obama?
I think we should get guaranteed funding from the federal government. It would boost the local and national economy, be a testing ground for new technology, and show the world that we really have moved beyond the Bush years. If you're interested to see how it seems to be falling thru the cracks click here.
Chicago Parks are the best in the world and have all already hosted major events including just about every championship other than the Super Bowl (which it would with the new stadium) the Worlds Fair (now infamous) millions of people for the Obama Presidential Acceptance Speech and the Chicago Auto Show. The infrastructure is here and we have mile upon mile of protected lakefront for water sports. We have the worlds busiest airport that is expanding already, more than enough lodging, and everything else we would need. The 7 years in between now and then would be used mostly to tackle the "transportation issue." I seriously don't know why Chicago isn't the frontrunner. We are one of the only major cities built on blue collar workers who has come thru for event after event like this. One of the excuses the IOC has stated is the wind. Really? That is a misnomer. It gets mega windy in the canyon, where no athletes will be performing.
If we could build up Oprah and Obama, we can build the Olympics to be amazing too. That's a lot of "O"s. I'm not trying to be arrogant, but we have the best of everything here, including the aesthetics.... Ever wonder why everyone you've ever met from Chicago goes on and on and on about it? That is because Chicago is so fucking insanely underrated.
Things Chicago has given that are the best: Oprah, Jordan, Obama, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Siskel and Ebert, Buckingham Fountan, Sue the T-Rex, Al Capone, Sears Tower, Marshal Fields, Michigan Avenue, 3-peat Bulls, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, First World's Fair with electricity, the Chicago Picasso (I guess given to us), the best airport, the best ufo sighting, Jerry Springer, Sam Kinneson, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, the Belushi's, and practically anyone good from SNL history, the Cusacks, John Malkovich, Italian Beef (right?), the best Art Museum, the best skyline, the best fire, we tortured the shit out of the south in our civil war prisons, the best people, Eli's Cheesecake, fucking gum (Wrigleys)....ME! I think I've made my point: We don't do anything less than spectacular, unforgettable, and classy. We just don't know how. That's right I said we're fucking classy. :-) We even have the best phrases.
I'll give you one guess as to what my favorite place on this marble is.
