Upon the death of the North Korean leader, his son succeeded him, as he did his father. We assume it is a dictatorship and just write it off as dictatorial rule of what we consider a third world country. When the Queen of England dies or relinquishes her throne her son or a grandson will succeed her. We assume they live in a monarchy and it has always been that way in the United Kingdom. We are fortunate in this country that the same rules of succession don’t apply.
Wait a minute – we have the Daleys, Burkes, and Tom Keane, whose wife replaced him when he went to jail. Justice Burke graduated from law school and shortly thereafter was appointed judge and within a relatively short time was made the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. No doubt she is an extremely gifted litigator. Then we have our Attorney General, who prosecutes chimney rockers and con artists rather than investigating and prosecuting the corruption in state government, which might embarrass her father. Now Alderman Richard Mell is contemplating retirement before the next primary so his daughter can be nominated to fill his vacant seat. Alderman Mell, a very wealthy man, can be remembered for his public dispute with the former Governor over contributions from a landfill operator who slighted the governor in favor of Mell. Alderman Joe Moore has similar thoughts – he is being considered for a state post and wants his daughter to succeed him. Is it any wonder the state and city is in such lousy fiscal condition? Aren’t we glad we don’t live in a dictatorship or monarchy?
— John Culloton, Chicago
