Rural Requiem

What do the 2024 Illinois primaries say about the health of our democracy? Why do so many remain so removed and ambivalent to politics? Not surprisingly, it's all connected. Write-In Info after Links Opening : Men I Trust, Show Me How Closing : Vacations, Next Exit Obama's 1996 New Years Kick Them Dems Off the Ballot Party, Chicago Tribune. 2018, Jim Meadows 2018, Effingham In 9 of the cou...

New Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, believes the Separation of Church and State is a misnomer. Senator Marsha Blackburn chides President Joe Biden about the First Amendment, exposing how little anyone really knows about 1A. The Rural Requiem dives into the separation, history, and culture. This may sound more like a Disney Plus mini-series than reality, but 101 More Democrats than Republicans...

A former President and current candidate for the same office has been indicted on state and federal charges in multiple jurisdictions, with more likely to be filed before Labor Day. A sober examination and indictment forecast will challenge our audience to dig beyond the headlines and declarations of innocence and guilt. Can anyone remain objective regarding politics any longer? Let us know what y...

The Rural Requiem demystifies the political, cultural, and religious dynamics that quickly placed Transgender at the center of online commentary, driving legislative and political action across the nation. I open with my public comment against censorship at a local county board meeting. As we face the impacts of a No Roe America, we explore historical parallels that take us back to Southern Illino...

Macon County voters will decide April 4th to keep or eliminate their future voice in who audits their county offices. It begs the question, do you know who audits your local county offices? And, if you could lie about everything, everywhere, all at once, and be elected county auditor, would you? Do you even need to be a CPA in order to be the Illinois State Auditor General? The answer may surprise...

We take a lighter approach, mostly, and make some predictions, as we travel and witness the lunar eclipse. Get out and vote today if you haven't already cast your ballot! It's okay to not fill an oval in every race on the ballot. 

With the Election around the corner, we take a closer look at the former county clerk's statements. Why is her entire campaign centered around trusting her to smear others? Missed the other podcasts in this series? Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Hear the entire episode of Clerks: The Di...

A broader narrative is drawn, describing the mindset and atmosphere of Moultrie, and many other rural counties in Illinois and America. How has the increasing lack of competitive local races in the general election led to the problems we’re experiencing today? How has zombie economics deepened our divisions and decreased the solutions for our shared problems? How has lack of Democratic Party inves...

More reports from inside the Moultrie County Clerk’s office are sorted through. Claims of being the best are compared to reality. Georgia England, who quit because of the toxic atmosphere in the courthouse, has actually been working in that office ever since that resignation. Why is her office upset about public document requests? Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Cha...

We finish the Barker Substitute Challenge. Who knew it would intersect so many issues? Schools, nursing homes, and my experiences as human resource director and sexual ed teacher are mentioned. What narratives do we choose to write about others? I discuss my reactions and histories with parades, politicians, punctuality and more. Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chap...

A few of the irregularities in the Moultrie County June primary are discussed, as well as how the general mindset of being a candidate and elected official is vital. Quickly, we move to the allegations by supporters of former Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England made during her abrupt exit from office. The Barker Substitute Challenge is taken. It is no shock to any Illinois resident how expensive...

I finish the story about Schuyler County’s ballot issues heading into the general election. Detailing these mistakes slides us right back to Moultrie County election woes regarding the Republican county clerk primary in June. Mistakes can pile up. At least Schuyler County has been upfront about their mistakes ahead of the general election so they can be accounted for at every step in the process....

Chapter 6 Dinner, Breakfast, or Brunch? Democrats, Republicans, or à la carte? What are Moultrie County Democrats so afraid of hearing? We hear from Capitol View regarding Illinois county clerks before I begin telling the story of another 15th Congressional District County Clerk’s office being rocked by mistakes and scandal. Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Hear the...

National implications intersect with personal experiences and the upcoming November election. What is the decision matrix for Georgia England? Was the Illinois Attorney General involved? Powerful and jarring testimony of an intern is heard. Did England deny him training in the county clerk’s office to protect him or protect herself? I divulge my reasoning for talking to other people in the courtho...

Chapter Four opens up a dynamic discussion about the atmosphere and culture that is the backdrop of these contentious issues involving elections. The timeline leading up to the July 14th resignation of Georgia England is analyzed. We finish the interim county clerk’s speech and the decisions leading up to her being slated as a Democratic candidate in the county treasurer race. England’s media mana...

Finally in Chapter Three, we hear what were supposed to be the final words and official acts at the July Moultrie County Board meeting by the county clerk. Her 21-year history in office is examined. We also are introduced to the interim county clerk who assumed her seat upon her resignation. The interim county clerk later was slated as a Democratic candidate for county treasurer. She had worked un...

In Chapter Two, we setup Georgia England’s final words as Moultrie County Clerk as well as discuss the timing of that resignation and speech. Was the Illinois Attorney General involved? Why did England give that speech after the public comment instead of during the requested time for elected officials? Also, I bring attention to Coles County Board member Gail Mason’s activities during and after th...

Chapter One of the Divine Rural Comedy sets the tone for the conversation we’re all having on the national and local stages regarding our elections. Specifically, we begin to explore how elections become a reality in rural Illinois within each county. I begin highlighting some characters in a local county I know well.  Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England, with 21 years on the job, quit sudd...

We've reached the midpoint of our journey.  Will you brave the Barker Substitute Challenge? How many non-candidates have not only been on the ballot but also won office? Can we all just break some bread together. Apparently not quite yet. We might just get there, though, by the end of our exploration.  I think it would be healthy for people to start commingling again, because it is not h...

Our elections are under the microscope across the nation, including right here in Central and Southern Illinois. An exploration of numerous stories and accusations during the fallout after Moultrie County Clerk and County Clerk of the Year Georgia England abruptly quit in July ahead of this November's midterm elections. The story is captivating.

It was two years ago that I delivered this essay at my father's funeral.  You do not want to miss this opportunity to continue celebrating those we have lost so as to cherish those still in our orbit. As usual, there are some unexpected turns in this voyage to the end of suffering for one.

Governor JB Pritzker visited Charleston today. Here's a clip from his visit involving a business owner who was hard hit during the pandemic. Rural Requiem explores the impact of Democratic voids on the ballot in Central and Southern Illinois on Gov. JB's re-election. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://gaither4il.com/2022/08/19/will-lack-of-democratic-candidates-harm-pritzker/ Photo: Chicago Magazine

Do we need a secret decoder ring in order to enter the ballot box when ranked voting has become law? An exploration of motivations of individuals, communities, and political parties as it relates to our elections and the economy. Our elections have increasingly been scrutinized. Republicans look for bamboo. Democrats look at voids on their ballots. Seems like a bunch of flailing around as various...

Do we need a secret decoder ring in order to enter the ballot box when ranked voting has become law?  An exploration of motivations of individuals, communities, and political parties as it relates to our elections and the economy.  Our elections have increasingly been scrutinized. Republicans look for bamboo. Democrats look at voids on their ballots. Seems like a bunch of flailing around...