Are they serious about real estate taxes?

Our real estate tax bill just came in the mail. $5,000 increase. This is madness......
AND.....Convicted Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) is scheduled to receive $8,700 per month in government disability pay, as well as a partial federal pension of $45,000. That generous $8,700 in disability comes thanks to Jackson's sudden development of a "mood disorder" as the federal government began looking to indict him. 
Jackson, who was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, had no history of mental illness during his prior 17 years in Congress. Rev. Jesse Jackson has defended his son's claims of mental illness, stating to the court, "This time a year ago I thought we may have lost him." 

So, Jesse Jackson, Jr. 17-year veteran of the US Congress, suddenly gets a "mood disorder"(about the same time he learned he was to be indicted) and is going to prison for 2.5 years. Because his "mood disorder" was so severe, he has become disabled and will receive $8700 per month as a disability payment as well as $45000 a year from his congressional pension, a total of about $150K per year. Is this a great country or