Actually, I was trying to be as objective as I could be. I held back a lot in this piece.
It’s really not a matter of whether I am a race fan or not… The issue at hand is the location of the race.
The point of the article is that the city of Chicago imposed a stupid idea on a location ill-suited for it. Whether you are a race fan or not is irrelevant.
I am a huge fan of contract bridge.… But if someone proposed a bridge competition outdoors on a windy day, I would oppose it… because the cards would be blown all over the place.
I am a huge fan of live theater… But if someone proposed an open air production of Guys and Dolls on the beach between Lake Michigan and Lake Shore Drive, I would oppose it… because the audience wouldn’t be able to understand a word.
My point here was that an event was forced on an area without that area’s consent, due to the dictatorial powers of a modern big city mayor’s office… and the only thing people are paying attention to is whether the race was a success, or not, from the perspective of the participants and fans.
I believe that it’s important, in such an instance, to step back and look at the effect on the entire town.
Nobody else is reporting how tons of tourists were kept away by this stupidity… How tons of businesses suffered losses of ticket sales and product sales and restaurant sales, because people stayed away in droves, knowing that this debacle was about to occur.
I didn’t write the article to slam racing… There are lots of horse racing aficionados in my family. I have nothing against racing. I have placed a few bets at the parimutuel windows, myself, over the years…
But I oppose an authoritarian government writing roughshod over the community… Whether it’s in my hometown or in the nation’s capital 1000 Miles away.
JFD
Well, they did steal the date from Road America, so there’s that . . .
I could understand your distaste and cynicism if this were the first time Chicago politicians had ever run roughshod over the desires of its proles. But alas, we both know that is NOT the case. Rather, that is normal, in effect S.O.P.
Consider the other side of the coin; this was a legendary event in the city’s history, as well in the sanctioning body. The event itself was historic.
To wail and cry over inept tourist’s poor planning skills is crying over spilled milk . . .
Audience wouldn't understand a word, no matter. That said, it was an interesting concept, poorly executed which is no surprise. Might be worth trying again. And of course you left out the elephant in the room. On of my kids reminded me of the weekends I used to take them to Road America, expressing surprise I didn't go. Realizing before I answered that being born there and living in the area into a 9th decade, going anywhere I have to fear for my life/property and my ability to defend myself is severely restricted, anything non-essential I'm not going. I suspect that's become a 12 month per year problem for Chicago.
Thank you for the thoughtful reply. This reminds me of the old FR, long before Twitter, where many times posters were participants in the story.
One of your angles here, that news blackouts exist for consequential local issues to fa or an incumbent ideology, strikes a familiar chord. I resided in the town next to Asbury Park during Superstorm Sandy. All press following the Christie Obama wet kiss reported that everything was great. It wasn't.
I quoted the italicized because this we will always be a point of agreement and a common thread characterizing Chicago and NJ.
I commented the way I did, because it is apparent you are not a race fan - growing up during the summer nights I could hear the racing at Wall Stadium where Rsy Evernham and Martin Truex got their starts.
I also posted because your piece is an interesting a d well done apication of Bastiat. I gave you the hammer jab, however, because empirical data or even anecdotes (Quiteikely not reported by local press?) seemed lacking.