November.

There is a certain conventional wisdom, fear, pessimism and fatalism about what the Illinois General Assembly will do to those of us in public employee pensions after the November elections.

I’m for vigilance and action.

But I have no use for fatalism or any of the rest of it.

This is the conventional wisdom: The General Assembly could not get it together in May or on August 17th for fear of what pension voters would do on election day. But after the election they will be free to go after us.

Not so fast.

I am reminded of the famous quote by Sun Tzu from The Art of War.

“It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.”

Will the Illinois GOP and the Democrats really be able to unite on a plan even after the election? Will the deep divisions in the Democratic Party between Boss Madigan and Pat Quinn really be resolved after November 6th?

Already the Republicans are jockeying in Tampa for position to be the gubernatorial nominee for the GOP.

The fact is that there is never an “after the election.” In Springfield election campaign season runs longer than major league baseball season.

I am also reminded on the scene in The Godfather where the heads of the crime families all sit down to work out their differences and share their bought-off cops and politicians. No sooner is the meeting over and they start killing each other again.

So goes political life in Springfield.

And what about us?

80,000 teacher retirees. Over 700,000 members of the various state pensions. And their families and their friends.

I have had the opportunity to speak with retirees – dozens – hundreds – this past summer and have been invited to speak to others this coming Fall..

They are active, knowledgeable, have time, are concerned, angry, vote and are spread out in every legislative district in the state.

Organized? Not enough. Not yet.

Sun Tzu also said, “Can you imagine what we can do if we do all we can?”