The Chief recently finished reading and doing a critical historical review of a book by journalist Nicholas Lemann titled The Promised Land, which included among other things a detailed account of political maneuvering of Byzantine complexity involved with the invention and implementation of the so-called War on Poverty of the 60’s and 70’s. Lemann’s examination happened to focus particularly on the effects of this on the social and political condition of Chicago.

In spite of Saul Alinsky proteges being given healthy doses of Federal funds for their “Community Action Organizations”, the expected miraculous transformation of ghetto conditions failed to materialize….People didn’t hang around to enjoy and develop their ghetto neighborhoods: they beat feet out of there as soon as they possibly could escape to better areas. So much for social engineering!

It’s interesting to note some of the Chicago problems detailed by Lemann are currently being showcased in The Chicago Code, a new Fox cop show set in Chicago.

All of this taken together with the current and continuing exchange of ideas and people between the administration and Chicago (most recently with B.O.’s former Chief of Staff moving into the office in Chicago City Hall formerly occupied by Mayor Daley), brings to mind an interesting set of coincidences to consider.

Overall, it ain’t a pretty picture, but the scene reinforces the recent description of the administrative status-quo:

Bachmann Stands by ‘Gangster Government’ Description

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) refused Sunday to retreat from her characterization of the Obama administration as a “gangster government.”

The House Tea Party Caucus founder said, “I don’t take back my statement on gangster government,” a phrase she used at a tea party gathering in April. “I think that there have been actions that have been taken by this government that I think are corrupt,” she said during her appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

The Chief concurs.