Reader Poll: 7/20/01

We asked, "Motorola is announcing its second quarter earnings this week. How important are large corporations to Chicago?" Here is what you said: A. Undeniably important. They are the future for us. 62% B. Boeing? More like Boe-ring! They don't matter. 6% C. They would be important if they were more successful. 16% D. I used to work for one, but I got laid off a few weeks ago. 7% E. Other 9%

Of course it is important to have large public and private corporations based in Chicago and the surrounding area!

Large entities are the lifeblood of every major metropolis. For the 6 percent who voted for "Boeing? More like Boe-ring! They don't matter," you should be shot on grounds of stupidity.

Let's take the Taste of Chicago for example. A large and fun seven-plus days of a picnic-type environment with food, musical acts and fireworks, which was attended by millions of people. Do you think planning and putting on an event such as the Taste is cheap? Of course not. And you don't think the city pays the entire bill, do you? Again, of course not.

The city searches for sponsors just like any other event in this world. This year, the main sponsor was Sears. Do you think it's a coincidence that the main sponsor is based in Hoffman Estates?

Without large corporations like Sears to sponsor large non-moneymaking events like the Taste, there would be no Taste at all. Or not the way we know the Taste to be.

Schools, hospitals, museums, musicals and charities all depend on large corporations to contribute significant money to help defray the cost of running such large operations.

For those 6 percent who voted for "B," what makes Chicago great is the large corporations.