God I Hope We Don't Get It...the 2016 Olympics.

So the 2016 Olympic selection committee was in Chicago this weekend. They were wined and dined by Chicago's jet set (Oprah, to name one). They've been shown a grand old time. Soon they will have to make their decision between Chicago, Rio, Tokyo, Madrid.

As a Chicagoan, I can tell you many of us are rooting for any city other than here. With Chicago's propensity for coming in 6 times over budget and behind schedule, this thing will cost us a fortune, and much will end up on the backs of taxpayers. We've got the transit system in disarray and threatening cuts, the policemen's union is picketing the Olympic selection committee meetings in Chicago because they believe the city is not adequately prepared (and aren't contracts due soon?) And we've got tons of poor and homeless that will get shoved out into the suburbs, much like during our recent (and less infamous) Dem Natl Convention. Basically, the Olympics are a big Daley cost bucket waiting to spring a leak, and most Chicagoan's fear the cost to be too great. But Ben Jorvasky from the Chicago Reader says it much better than me.

An Open Letter to the IOC
Why you don’t want to give Chicago the Olympics
By Ben Joravsky April 2, 2009
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/an-open-letter-to-the-ioc/Content?oid=1098601


Now I know Chicago is the only American city in the running, and as Americans we want to "represent". I hope the rest of America will forgive us if we take a pass this year. Trust me, you don't want Chicago to bungle this up. And we will, oh we will...

As for me, I'm rooting for Rio.