Question of the day
Thursday, Apr 16, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Northwest Indiana Times editorializes about the sometimes vicious back and forth between its state and Illinois…
This is a situation where a rising tide will float all boats. Illinois needs to repair some holes in its boat without trying to rip holes in Indiana’s economy.
There are many examples of cross-state collaboration in fields like higher education and the environment. Let’s add economic development to that list.
Let’s also tone down the rhetoric, including the “Illinoyed” campaign in Indiana and Rauner’s “rip the economic guts out of Indiana” speech, and find ways to work together.
We’re neighbors, after all, and should act more neighborly.
* The Question: Is it time for a truce with Indiana? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
surveys
- Juice - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:08 am:
Voted yes, because I’m assuming my first amendment rights will still allow me to make fun of them.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:08 am:
So in other words…Indiana is now afraid they have awoken the sleeping bear?
Where exactly was this editorial board, when Indiana started this nonsense?
“Sure, we’ve been egging your house, tp’ing your trees and shaving cream your door handles for months! But it’s all been in jest. No need for you to start causing trouble in our yard! No sir! Let’s just bury the hatchet and move on”.
Sorry, Indiana. You’ve stepped on your own junk, now sit back and enjoy the return favor.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:11 am:
Indiana? Sure.
It’s Wisconsin that keeps me awake at night, sitting up there, so smug with their cheese and brats and beer… apple cobbler, fish fry Fridays… it’s Wisconsin that worries me.
To the “QOTD”,
Voted Yes.
“Why?”
If someone can point to the name-calling Dopiness leading to a successful Illinois or even a successful Indiana, have at it. I find it difficult to believe that that fiercest rhetoric is winning hearts or minds or dollars.
- AC - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:17 am:
Voted yes, we have a regional economy and benefit from growth in nearby areas. The economy isn’t a zero sum game, if it were GDP would have been flat over the past 50 years.
- Sunshine - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:17 am:
It is a true shame to see people from neighboring states fight with and harshly insult one another when we can barely get folks out to vote….for change or otherwise.
The hate mongering needs to cease and we need to find ways to keep and attract jobs to the Midwest. Friendly completion is acceptable. Shooting oneself in the foot is simply stupid.
Want good things to happen, think positive, pay attention, and get out the vote.
- Slick Willy - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:21 am:
Sound advice from the NWIT.
- A guy - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:23 am:
NW Indiana residents have always been mostly considered Metropolitan Chicagoans. Don’t know why we’d been in a situation where we need a truce. Cute rivalry, fine. Beyond that; poor form. These are the same folks who changed their clocks with us in that corner of the state. No need for malice.
- Anthony - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:24 am:
I voted Yes since my Illinois state employment disqualifies me as a Illinois taxpayer per the new governor, maybe Indiana will would be proud to claim and recognize me and my contribution (employment and taxes paid) as being a worthy neighbor. I wouldn’t throw eggs at their house being the neighborly type of person I am.
- Big Joe - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:24 am:
Voted yes, because I am against any idea that pits two neighboring states, cities, communities against each other. It serves no good purpose to not cooperate with neighbors. And if Rauner wants something, I am usually against it.
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:24 am:
Remember the book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and Habit 4 “Think Win-Win.” Of course, in the “real” world many want to tear down their opponents so they can take it all!
We need to get to win-win with all of those involved AND step away from this destructive Illinois vs Indiana attitude!
- haverford - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:26 am:
Yes. Tearing down a neighboring state (or any state in the US, really) does nothing to improve the overall state of US workers. A job in WI or IL is still a job in the US - the goal, hopefully, would be more overall jobs (and good jobs, but different argument.)
It’s like when all the folks who’ve been plunked on 401ks (or less) decry how unionized workers are the problem. It’s a race to the bottom mentality - fighting your brother rather than trying to lift each other up and both prosper.
- jerry 101 - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:26 am:
In general, states (and cities) need to quit with this stupid poaching from one another.
Sometimes companies move, other times companies open new production facilities or whatever. If they come asking for tax incentives, it’s high time that states and localities tell them to go fly a kite.
- Urbs In Horto - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:31 am:
As a South Bend native, I’m tired of this tension ruining family holidays. (Kidding.)
- Makandadawg - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:32 am:
I voted yes. I still can not imagine that we elected a Governor that said “Rip the economic guts out of Indiana”
- Mongo - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:33 am:
Disputes between states for water availability or quality, or carbon emissions, or matters like that, yes fine, go ahead. But I like the line in the article…”a rising tide will float all boats.”
Provincialism does not lead to better interstate commerce.
- siriusly - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:35 am:
I vote yes. The regional economy needs to strengthen and grow as a whole. The better our region, the better we will all be. The cross-border fighting is harmful - economies are regional - they are not restrained by local political boundaries.
Multiple studies show that economic development should be regionally based.
If we want to do battle for jobs and employers, as a region, we should try to keep employers in the Midwest and keep them from going to the South.
- TwoFeetThick - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:36 am:
I voted no. Indiana started this idiocy and, in comparison to the economic might of Illinois, Indiana is like the little yappy dog nipping at our heels. The dog’s nose must be firmly shoved in the s— so it remembers to stay in its proper place
- TwoFeetThick - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:38 am:
I voted no. Indiana started this idiocy and, in comparison to the economic might of Illinois, Indiana is like the little yappy dog nipping at our heels. The dog’s nose must be firmly shoved in the stuff so it remembers to stay in its proper place.
- D.P.Gumby - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:40 am:
It’s been nothing but stupid pr tricks from the beginning and should end.
- TwoFeetThick - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:47 am:
Sorry for the double post. I thought the first one didn’t go through.
- Buddy - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:50 am:
Only if they say uncle.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:05 pm:
We can easily get along if we both start blaming Kentucky.
- Capitol Fax Follower - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:07 pm:
We should do our best to work together, for the overall good. If only the Governor could agree.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:10 pm:
I voted yes because I consider Bruce to be an embarrassment.
- Toure's Latte - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:15 pm:
I voted Yes, send them both to their rooms.
- Sir Reel - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:18 pm:
Yes. State versus state rivalries are silly. They assume economic development is a zero sum game.
- Muscular - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
Voted no. Indiana needs to rescind its permit that allows the BP refinery to dump large amounts of petroleum pollutants in Lake Michigan. Being neighborly means not poisoning the drinking water of millions of people in northeast Illinois.
- Filmmaker Professor - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:30 pm:
No. War is good. They will welcome us as their liberators.
- jazzy - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:30 pm:
I voted yes. If BR wants to kill something I want to keep them alive.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:30 pm:
VanillaMan wins the Internet!
- Annon3 - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:38 pm:
Votes no, How Ironic said the best
- BlameBruceRauner - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:48 pm:
I voted No. They have stolen way to may of our jobs over the last decade. Time to start stealing them back. This is one time I like the crazy tactic of Rauner.
- A Jack - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:52 pm:
No, unless they trade us the Dunes for Kane County.
- Anonin' - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:07 pm:
Voted No
We ain’t quittin’ til we put up the Welcome to West Indiana signs up everywhere
- zatoichi - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:12 pm:
Truce over what? Some politicos making taking points for a TV spot? If a truce makes these people shut up about some sort of competition then do a ‘truce’. Otherwise, it ain’t close.
- archimedes - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:14 pm:
Attracting new business doesn’t have to be by trashing the competitor states. “Natural” competition will exist just by trumpeting the positives of Illinois.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:22 pm:
All we can do is do our best. Illinois is our issue not Indiana.
This is the same concept I try to teach my kids, do your best. The rest will fall into place.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:23 pm:
Now that we hit back the Hoosiers want a truce? Thin skinned bullies, they are. They started it. They also hurt themselves with the anti-gay law.
I voted yes for the truce because I didn’t want to start the fight in the first place. Indiana started it by trying to poach our jobs and people. We don’t take that stuff, especially when Indiana is a low-wage state that’s controlled by plutocrats and religious bigots.
Speaking of religious fanatics, how about Tennessee? Their House passed a bill that would make the Bible the state book.
- MickJ - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
No reason for a truce. Illinois is like Cubs fans and White Sox fans. We ignore Indiana while they are jealous of us.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
Indiana does a good enough job of trashing itself; why do we need to pile on?
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:51 pm:
Yes, because the Illiana Expressway is the tie that binds us together…or maybe not, LOL!
- HappyToaster - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 2:21 pm:
Not until they do something about I-65.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 2:44 pm:
Truce? We won that war a long, long time ago.
- 1776 - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 2:48 pm:
No. Send in the Illinois Navy and National Guard to start retaking the satellite states!!!
- Belle - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
No. But I’ll change it to yes if they ask again sometime when we’re down and they are up.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 2:56 pm:
No way. Their big glass of dopey, pea-brained governors spilled into our state.
- TJ - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 2:59 pm:
They tried to snipe jobs from us first. Don’t start a fight if you can’t finish it, Hoosiers.
- HangingOn - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 3:15 pm:
Gary lures Chicago company across border to create 300 jobs
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150416/NEWS/150419432
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 3:28 pm:
Yes, it’s all just silly spin anyway directed at those gullible enough to think governors “create” private sector jobs. They create press releases.
The Jan. 3 Crains had a good review on the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of the “Illinoyed” campaign and how regional economies actually function.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 4:37 pm:
I voted no. Gotta keep something back for slow news days. Otherwise, we’ll start hearing more stories about Rod Blagojevich’s hair.
- James - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 5:24 pm:
Rauner’s quote is not statesman-like. It would resurface and discredit him if he ever sought the VP or presidency. In this competitive environment between states, you are expected to think these things, but you need to also learn to keep a respectful silence.
- railrat - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 5:49 pm:
voted NO haven’t we ALL learned your closest neighbor is the first one to **** you
- Excessively Rabid - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 5:56 pm:
If by no we mean pols should stop making stupid statements about neighboring states and run their business, then no.
- Excessively Rabid - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 5:56 pm:
I mean yes and yes.
- Levois - Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 7:21 pm:
I said yes but only for the fact that some people from this state go to the Hoosier state for gas.