How do we know how well our local economy is faring? We're bombarded with anecdotes - this business closing, this restaurant opening, quarterly earnings from Deere - but how do those translate into a bigger picture?

Two articles in recent days have shed a little bit more light on the as-yet-unconfirmed plan by Governor Rod Blagojevich to propose a gross-receipts tax on Illinois businesses. The tax would be levied on all corporate revenues, regardless of profitability or existing tax exemptions and loopholes.

"The very word 'secrecy' is repugnant in a free and open society; and we as a people are inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings." - John F. Kennedy

The basis of any democracy is accountability. It likely follows that a democratic government is one that is accountable to the people - and that means being open to the public. Evidently, the Bush administration skipped class the day that basic lesson was taught.

You might notice something different in the River Cities' Reader Best of the Quad Cities poll this year: For the first time, we're offering "staff picks" for certain categories.

This doesn't mean that we're invalidating our readers' choices. Rather, we're offering individual picks based on our experience, as a way to broaden the conversation a little. Sometimes the best things in our community are popular; other times, they need a little push to get the recognition they deserve.