Former Chicago Alderman Arenda Troutman today was sentenced four years in prison for fraud, becoming the 28th Chicago Alderman since 1972 to be measured for pinstripes.

Yawn.

The Chicago Tribune's Jeff Coen reports:

Assistant U.S. Atty. Joseph Alesia called Troutman's conduct "a five-year crime spree." In some instances she blocked low-income housing because no one involved would pay her a bribe, he said. "Even by Chicago standards, it's no small crime," Alesia said.

If the number of convicted and jailed Chicago alderman since 1972 was extrapolated to the US House, it would be as if over 240 congressman had gone to jail in the same period, or about 6 to 7 every year for 37 years.

Since 1960, three of the last seven elected Illinois governors have gone to jail; the fourth, Rod Blagojevich, was impeached this year.

Every Democrat elected governor of Illinois since 1960 has either gone to jail or been impeached.