In 2011, the General Assembly, kicking and screaming, did what was good for it and ate its spinach. Members raised the rate at which the State of Illinois taxes the income of its citizens, thus forestalling a revenue crisis.

Four. That’s how many are in place in council chambers (maximum occupancy 140) to keep track of who voted which way on ordinances and resolution. And they have hardly been up to snuff since being installed last year to replace a much smaller doo-hickey with colored lights beside each alderman’s name – red meant no, green meant yes.