Today’s quotable
Wednesday, Oct 23, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Dennis Byrne op-ed in the Chicago Tribune…
So long, Illinois. Goodbye, Chicago.
Here, I was born and raised. Schooled and worked. Practically my entire life has unfolded in Chicago and close by.
As a kid, I rode on Chicago street cars and the wooden “L” cars before there was a CTA. Took the old North Shore Line to high school and college. Flew out of Midway Airport when it was the nation’s busiest and before there was an O’Hare. Caddied in Northfield and labored over a North Avenue knitting mill’s steam table. I’ve worked for three Chicago daily newspapers. I love Chicago. Chicago is my town.
But I’ve had enough. Fed up. I’m gone.
There are as many reasons for leaving as there are people fleeing, the weather not being the least of them.
But that’s not the quotable. I mean, the dude is retiring to Florida after years of working in the North. Happens a lot. He’s chosen to make a big deal out of it. That’s his right. I wish him well. I love south Florida in the fall and winter.
* The hilarious part is the Tribune editor’s note at the end…
What does it tell you that Byrne, a lifelong resident of Chicago and an op-ed columnist here for 30 years, would prefer to risk living in Florida’s Hurricane Alley?
Yep, he’s risking his very life to leave Illinois.
- Bert Weinman - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:21 am:
In order to be a quote, doesn’t it have to be something the person(s) actually said? Doesn’t appear to me they said anything about “risking his life.” Seems like it start to get old being so grumpy about being wrong all the time, Rich. Maybe you should start owning it once in a while.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:24 am:
Waitaminit. The Tribune Editorial Board now thinks hurricanes are bad?
– MrJM
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:26 am:
===Doesn’t appear to me they said anything about “risking his life.”===
“would prefer to risk living in Florida’s Hurricane Alley”
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:26 am:
The mortality rate of people that retire to Florida for the remainder of their lives is 100%.
- Christopher - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:26 am:
It tells me that nearly any location in the US has its problems, such as weather, taxes, politics, etc. Mr. Byrne seems to be trading one challenge for another, but at least he’ll be warmer.
- McGuppin - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:27 am:
Wow. What a hero….we’ll pray for you Dennis.
- Tommy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:28 am:
Not a fan of this snark Rich. Normally I agree with you but not this time. It’s a sensitive topic in Florida. They never know what’s going to happen
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:29 am:
First, - @misterjayem - wins.
To the post,
As someone who also talks about leaving for far different reasons than retirement, or even taxes, property or others…
“Why so angry?”
What fool is so gleefully angry at a life choice?
Maybe go talk with a professional once you’re down there, that gleeful anger, yikes, man… go for all of our sakes, not just yours.
You can hear the mouth-breathing.
Godspeed, all the best, congratulations.
But please, for yourself, take a breath.
- Birdseed - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:32 am:
=== Yep, he’s risking his very life to leave Illinois. ===
Well, that’s a bit of an extrapolation.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:32 am:
“In order to be a quote, doesn’t it have to be something the person(s) actually said? Doesn’t appear to me they said anything about ‘risking his life.’”
• Rich literally quoted the Trib’s editorial note verbatim.
• The verbatim quote was offset in blockquotes.
• Rich’s commentary on the verbatim quote — risking his life — was not presented as part of the Tribune editorial board quote.
English is a difficult language to master, but it isn’t nearly as difficult as you make it appear.
– MrJM
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:32 am:
=What does it tell you that Byrne, a lifelong resident of Chicago and an op-ed columnist here for 30 years, would prefer to risk living in Florida’s Hurricane Alley?=
It tells me he is going to Florida to die. I would rather live in Illinois.
- Steve - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:32 am:
Dennis Byrne got priced out of Illinois. Some people think it’s funny. Some people worry that it could happen to them.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:32 am:
Have any of y’all read the whole thing?
- Linus - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:33 am:
I, for one, cannot wait for Mr. Byrne’s forthcoming Trib guest columns and letters to the editor from afar, endlessly reminding us back home of what a cesspool we occupy. What a breath of fresh air each one will be.
- A guy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:34 am:
A lot of people are in the position to leave, yet put up with weather and other factors to stay…i.e. children, grandchildren, an innate love for the area, etc. Some even choose to split their time between here and wherever, FL, AZ, TX, SC and other more weather friendly places. I think Dennis’ point may be that the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze to stay. For me it still is, but that decision gets more difficult as time goes on. Some days I’d love to leave. Most I’d hate to leave.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:35 am:
==a joke on the taxpayers, who, in fact, have become the public servants.==
When’s the last time Dennis Byrne (or any ‘taxpayer’) plowed a city street at 4am, put out a fire, or taught a group of underprivileged children?
Apparently he loves Chicago…but doesn’t mind leaving people ‘holding the bag’ for discounted services he received from the early-80s through 2010.
- Powdered Whig - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:36 am:
=== Dennis Byrne got priced out of Illinois. ===
I want to see the tax returns. lol
- Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:38 am:
Gators and weather and sunburn, oh my!
- Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:39 am:
Is moving from tornado alley to hurricane alley a fair trade?
- illinoyed - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:39 am:
Oh dear - a white male boomer with retirement income complaining how things aren’t the way they used to be. Please let us stop what we’re doing to hear his lamentations.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:41 am:
When will the Illinois Exodus pushers follow suit?
Byrne wasn’t “fed up” when he made his living in higher-income Illinois. Now he can have his nice retirement after decades of paying a relatively-low state income tax. You’re welcome, Mr. Byrne.
As far as property taxes, people like Byrne who do well can shop around for lower taxes and still get decent homes in Chicago and elsewhere.
We, on the other hand, who choose or have to stick around Illinois, have to clean up a financial mess that was caused in part by our state constitution and flat tax, that benefited many people but not the state.
There was a segment last night on the TV news about the fair tax and the rich not leaving Illinois because of higher taxes.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:42 am:
Does Miami have wooden street cars?
I hope so for David Byrne and his anger issues and where he lives…
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:42 am:
So. Much. Drama.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:44 am:
Sounds more like the Tribune’s retirement plan leaves a lot to be desired.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:46 am:
“Have any of y’all read the whole thing?”
tl;dr
– MrJM
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:47 am:
Tommy, fair point. But this is a blog about Illinois.
Also, Tommy, stop stealing other people’s screen names for your posts. I can see what you’re doing and it’s not allowed here.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:47 am:
Good riddance.
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:49 am:
Seniors living in poverty in Illinois: 252,000, 12.6%.
Seniors living in poverty in Florida: 658,000, 16.6%.
There’s little question where seniors are better off economically as a whole, although rich is right the weather is better six months out of the year, you pay for it the other six months.
At the end of the day, good states empower their residents to retire where they want, and my guess is that Byrne like many Americans has been fantasizing about retiring to Florida for a long, long time.
- Red Ranger - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:51 am:
“the juice isn’t worth the squeeze to stay”
Well said, a guy.
I just don’t understand the cavalier attitude so many have about people leaving this state for reasons that leaders in the state have no real desire or interest to address.
- SSL - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:54 am:
So he used a life decision to tell a story to fit his narrative. People do that every day on this blog.
He’s one guy. No big deal. Until it turns out he’s just one of thousands. Time will tell if the actions of the new governor turn the tide on the negative population trend that Illinois has experienced over the last several years.
The “good riddance” attitude that some express says more about them than the people leaving. With that type of perspective, they will be the ones left holding the bag after others leave. Have fun with that.
As with many life decisions, several factors come into play. But there’s no denying that many people do leave this state for a variety of reasons, and others choose not to come here. And in comparison to other states, Illinois fares quite poorly overall.
- BloomingDale Billy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:56 am:
Tells me he is sick of backwards liberal policies that ruined the state and corruption.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:56 am:
=== I just don’t understand the cavalier attitude so many have about people leaving this state===
lol
It’s the gleeful anger that includes the thought of being in harms way of hurricanes is better than Illinois.
Ok. Godspeed. Take your mouth-breathing with ya.
- @misterhayem -
I’ll keep setting em up, please keep knocking them down. I don’t mind at all being Dean Martin.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:58 am:
=== backwards liberal policies that ruined the state and corruption.===
… like this mouth breathing.
Daley policies were more GOP aligned than a “liberal”, for one… but please, if your gleeful anger needs this… have at it.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:02 am:
“The “good riddance” attitude that some express says more about them than the people leaving.”
Nope, just Illinois Exodus pushers and right wingers and others who did and do good or great here but loathe the state. The low state income tax and higher incomes were very, very good to them, and this is the thanks they give.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:05 am:
=== backwards liberal policies that ruined the state and corruption.===
Since 1977, 30 of those 42 years, there were Republican Governors.
Do you need a cite, or…
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:13 am:
Good bye Dennis Byrne, whoever you are.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:13 am:
if he’s gone, can we stop reading his writing?
- SouthSide Markie - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:14 am:
The whole article makes me thing that the Tribune should change it’s motto to “We don’t just report the news. We create it.”
- efudd - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:15 am:
My wife and I talk about moving to Florida when we retire, we enjoy the Gulf coast area.
Then we go down there in July, and discover what heat and humidity really is.
- SouthSide Markie - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:15 am:
*think
- Todd - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:15 am:
Ow, yea you’re right on the Gov numbers, Repubs only had a seat at the table to really have control over items for 10 years when Pate had the Senate. The 2 year Daniels held the House was nice, but Pate was the check and block to everything else.
And when the dems control everything, they seem to move in leaps and bounds while the repubs were to concerned about hanging on to power.
And Governor’s like Edgar hold a chunk of blame for our fiscal state for the sweetheart contracts in exchange for no pushback on underfunding pensions with the “holidays”
- Regular democrat - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:16 am:
Him being a white male has absolutely nothing to do with the story. When does this bs stop. The guy is huffed up has an axe to grind and a platform to do it. Some of his points on corruption are correct. Good bye good luck. If and when I decide to move I’m not going to write about it I’m just going to leave. And guess what nobody is going to miss me. The same goes for Mr Byrne. Nobody gonna miss ya.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:17 am:
I remember the days when Mike Royko was an integral part of my day. When he changed papers, so did I. I miss those days.
- Red Ranger - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:19 am:
Grandson, just because one of Illinois’ taxes is modest, doesn’t make this a low tax state. Im sure Dennis wont miss the 11% sales tax, his Illinois property taxes, highest gas tax in the nation etc
- Interim Retiree - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:19 am:
Just got back from a week long vacation in West Texas visiting our son. Glad to be home in Illinois as I was surprised there is way more to do here in our state than there. Happy to be home to see the fall foliage too. Others can argue the opposite I guess.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:20 am:
- Todd -
You know why I am as I am and what I’m trying to “fight” for in these things.
There’s a reality of how the GOP stood, what they did, how they went about their business, and how it went down, when with GOP governors too (Edgar Ramp?)
I’d love to see a crawling out of the abyss, but this unrealistic way of understanding institutional knowledge isn’t going to help the post-Rauner GOP, including labor and embracing the trades in the GOP again.
Hope you’re well.
- Roman - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:22 am:
I love Chicago and Illinois, but if I can afford to get a place in Fla or AZ when I’m Dennis Byrne’s age, I sure as heck will. I hate winter.
And while we’re sharing anecdotes, when will the World’s Greatest Provider of Anecdotal Evidence, the Chicago Tribune, give editorial space to one of the tens of thousands of young, affluent taxpayers who have moved to Chicago in recent years? Might be interesting to hear why they decided to join us in hell-on-earth. I know they’re out there…I see all the construction cranes.
- efudd - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:24 am:
Shouldn’t he be standing on a balcony while giving this soliloquy?
Better yet holding a skull in his hand?
Dude, I-57 south to I-24 east.
- Todd - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:28 am:
OW — give me a call lost your number when my last phone got run over
Anon — don’t need the Nat Weather Service. they are wrong on the daily foecast 50% of the time. In the Army we used a weather rock:
if rock is wet rain
If rock casts shadow, sunny
If rock is swinging from string — windy
If rock is horizontal — hurricane
- Gooner - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:29 am:
I’ve read Byrne’s stuff on and off for 30 years and this is the perfect way for it to end.
He’s always been the cranky old man demanding that people get off his lawn.
Now he’s moved to be around others just like him.
Finally, it is worth noting that for a guy who hated Chicago, he sure stuck around for a long time. If I hated it as much as he did, I would have left 29 years ago.
- Colin O'Scopy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:32 am:
Dennis, thank you for leaving. Please don’t write as I promise we won’t miss you as much as you’ll miss us.
And before ya split, please consider taking Kristin McQueary wit cha.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:37 am:
- Todd -
Wondered why you were radio silent.
I’ll reach out to you coming up.
To the post,
Maybe only hurricanes that hit places that need a reset is good, hurricanes that can hurt you are a badge of honor… so much new classifications for hurricanes from Tribune folks?
- Todd - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:39 am:
Ow — need to catch up and have a few drinks like we use to.
you’re excepting constancy out of the Trib? Is weed legal already?
- Quizzical - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:49 am:
He moots most of his argument by moving to Florida. Arguments about degrees or levels of corruption are always subjective, but nobody thinks that Florida is a place with low levels of it. If he’d move to Utah or Vermont, he might have a point.
- Quizzical - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:49 am:
He moots most of his argument by moving to Florida. Arguments about degrees or levels of corruption are always subjective, but nobody thinks that Florida is a place with low levels of it. If he’d move to Utah or Vermont, he might have a point.
- Quizzical - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:49 am:
He moots most of his argument by moving to Florida. Arguments about degrees or levels of corruption are always subjective, but nobody thinks that Florida is a place with low levels of it. If he’d move to Utah or Vermont, he might have a point.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:57 am:
== give editorial space to one of the tens of thousands of young, affluent taxpayers who have moved to Chicago in recent years? ==
This might be one of Chicago’s most under-reported stories. A lot is made of republican boomers like Byrne leaving Illinois for warmer (and more conservative) climes, more is made of African-Americans fleeing violence on the south and west sides of Chicago, but I’ve seen very little reporting on the huge numbers of highly-educated young folks moving into Chicago to start a career. There’s been little to no coverage of this by IL media, unless I’m somehow missing all of it. Forbes magazine did a study on this and published a related story by Pete Saunders, but that’s about all I could find on the google.
Then again, a “Large numbers of young people moving to Chicago” headline probably wouldn’t generate the number of clicks that the other headlines do, so I can’t really blame them.
- efudd - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:00 am:
For those that think we’re “cheering the exodus”
We’re not. If you want to leave this state, or any, you’re free to do so whenever you like.
One of the great things about this country.
But what’s with the (full-figured) lady’s aria before exiting?
Seems like a juvenile cry for attention.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:02 am:
=Dennis Byrne got priced out of Illinois. Some people think it’s funny. Some people worry that it could happen to them.=
Some people are dubious about your statement since he provides no evidence other than to say teachers shouldn’t make $100,000 and public employees are greedy. You erroneously posit something not found in evidence.
And he appears to be ok with corporations, and sports franchises and their execs and employees making millions and billions, all heavily subsidized by the public treasury.
But he draws the line at $100 and decent benefits, for a job that is constantly pilloried by entitled dimwits who know nothing about which they speak.
Yeah, I a cavalier about his departure because I am glad he is leaving.
- Fixer - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:04 am:
Thoughts and prayers for Dennis.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:06 am:
=== you’re excepting constancy out of the Trib? Is weed legal already?===
You’re right. That’s on me. My bad.
- Steve - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:12 am:
- JS Mill -
I assumed from what Mr. Byrne wrote that’s he’s leaving Illinois for economic reasons. I didn’t assume he’s leaving Illinois to enjoy Florida’s miserable summers.
- South - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:17 am:
– Then we go down there in July, and discover what heat and humidity really is. –
And this is part of the reason I left the south after a decade and moved back to the Chicago area, financial woes and all.
- Moe Berg - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:20 am:
Byrne was a consistent denier of man-made global warming and climate disruption. He is a perfect embodiment of the no-nothingness often found in the Tribune. And, if we are so lucky, future generations will look back on him as we do those who drowned “witches” in Salem.
Perfect that he’s moving to one of the states expected to be most affected - unfortunately - by what 99.9% of peer-reviewed scientists agree is happening. More flooding (already occuring in Miamai, even on sunny days), more severe and frequent hurricanes, and the spread of tropical diseases north is sadly in Florida’s future.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:23 am:
Ugh, why are Boomers such a whiny petulant privileged generation? I mean sure, not all Boomers are like this but, I’m so sick of this from the same age group.
You poor fricking victim you.
The horrors of your life.
To me, it’s finding meaning in victimization
when you are in truth
the
perpetrator
who has the privilege of
blaming someone or something else
and the privilege of
walking away
from the mess you made.
the mess you helped maintain.
It’s why my faith is in Karma
Someday it’s gonna come back to you.
- 17% Solution - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:26 am:
“ The grisly and deadly gang wars didn’t just happen, as if by spontaneous generation. They are the result of decades of boneheaded or racist policies beginning with Mayor Richard J. Daley to build miles of high-rise public housing in a concentrated cluster to, more recently, a good-hearted but mistaken corrective that merely scattered organized gangs into formerly safe neighborhoods.”
So public housing was bad and taking away public housing was also bad. And it’s not the responsibility of the gangbangers to behave, it’s the mayors’ fault.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:30 am:
What mess did Dennis make?
The people who made the mess are still in Springfield and have been there since the 1970’s, they aren’t baby boomers
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:35 am:
=== and have been there since the 1970===
So, Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, Daniels, “Pate”, Cross, Watson, Radogno…
Read Dave McKinney, Rich Miller, Daniel Vock… they know the score.
Lots of blame. Keep up.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:40 am:
None of those people are still there are they?
Who is still there and has total control over every bill introduced in the House for 34 of the past 36 years who you cover for every day?
- ZC - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:43 am:
The best I can say is that Byrne’s not wrong, that the Pension Clause is dumb. It’s popular, it’s not going anywhere, I get it. It’s still a terrible idea and always has been.
Beyond that … err, have fun in that oh-so-ethical state of Florida, where the Governor ran ads about teaching his son to “Build that Wall!” and was last seen hugging soon-to-be-convicted felons who illegally pumped foreign money into U.S. elections. Also where the Republicans are still working overtime to try and disenfranchise as many black people as they can under cover of the law. I’ll stay in IL, thank you.
- SSL - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:43 am:
If you believe in Karma, and something really bad happens to you, wouldn’t that make you a really bad person?
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:44 am:
Honeybear –
May I ask you nicely not to call me whiny and petulant? People are not defined by their demographics.
The whole anti-Boomer thing has been ginned up to split the resistance.
I had the same response to Byrne’s whiny little article that you did. Has nothing to do with the decade in which I was born.
- Practical Politics - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:44 am:
Dennis Byrne wrote this column more than a week ago. It was posted on line before the Tribune published it.
It is surprising that it is getting so much play now.
@Moe Berg: Byrne was not a Tribune careerist. He also wrote for the Sun-Times for years.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:46 am:
==What mess did Dennis make?==
Did he ever complain about the flat tax being artificially low? The GA not making the necessary pension payment on time? The rise in corporate welfare while scapegoating the poor?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:50 am:
===It is surprising that it is getting so much play now===
Um, the Tribune has a much wider reach than ChicagoNow blogs.
Also, I didn’t post his column because of what he wrote in his column. I posted it because of that silly editor’s note.
- Practical Politics - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:50 am:
“I don’t mind at all being Dean Martin.”
Dino’s drunk routine was an act. His glass was usually filled with apple juice.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:52 am:
=== Dino’s drunk routine was an act.===
Yep. And his going out was blown out of proportion in comparison to Frank or Sammy. Dean was more likely found on the golf course too. Still, Dino had it pretty good.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:53 am:
Is Byrne paying the Tribune to let him keep having a column after he moves?
Cause I don’t know why else the editors would think its readers care what some cranky Florida retiree thinks about Chicago and Illinois politics.
Make room for some new blood already. Sheesh.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 11:57 am:
=== Who is still there and has total control over every bill introduced in the House for 34 of the past 36 years who you cover for every day?===
I’d do another movie. It only made Madigan stronger. Another Rauner failure.
I take it you haven’t read McKinney, Miller, or Vock.
Spoiler Alert; It’s not great for Madigan.
But… your one trick isn’t well-read enough for that.
Ignoring *all* the accomplices is Raunerite thinking that’s a failure and quitters think like that too, and Bruce couldn’t even quit right, LOL
Welp, maybe you’ll get institutional knowledge some day.
- Jibba - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 12:23 pm:
==I just don’t understand the cavalier attitude so many have about people leaving this state for reasons that leaders in the state have no real desire or interest to address.===
The leaders are addressing it the only way they can: tax enough to pay the bills. Your solution? (crickets chirping)
===the Pension Clause is dumb===
Personally, I think it clearly has shown its wisdom. Otherwise, hundreds of thousands of pensioners would be fleeced right now. How would that be for the economy?
- Ginhouse Tommy - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 12:24 pm:
A word of advice I got from someone who lived in Florida: If you hit your golf ball in the water, leave it. The only body of water that doesn’t have an alligator in it is your bath tub. I know someone who was dating a girl from around the everglades and when he went to use the bath room the was a snake in the toilet. It wasn’t a pet either. The only thing worse than that is that you could become a Dolphin’s fan.
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
Jocko makes an important point. When we talk about “Springfield” making bad decisions, we need to remember who voted those people in. If you didn’t stand up and call for rational taxes based on the cost of government, you were complicit in the decades of borrowing from the future and can-kicking. We all broke these dishes, and it is shameful that we are asking the next generations to pay to glue them back together.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
I can understand anyones frustration with Illinois.
Admittedly my demeanor is a bit cranky lately. On my journey to St. LOUIS tis morn to get some more battery acid pumped into my veins, i noticed a jumbo billboard in Sauget that read, school district 189. East st. Louis. Now i wonder what is the monthly cost of that billboard and what is it needed for. Are they that flush with money? These things aggravate me to no end.
I understand this guys frustration.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 12:34 pm:
Soccermom, if the shoe doesn’t fit, I’m not telling you you have to wear it. You’re amazing and of course I don’t think of you this way.
- Onioneque - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 12:42 pm:
“Old Dude Moves to Florida” is not really news… just sayin’
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 12:55 pm:
Wonder if Mr. Byrne bought a house here 30 years ago when he began at the Trib. If so, I wonder how much he sold his house for. If he made a substantial gain on his house what does he attribute that to? I see tremendous growth in the west loop, south loop and many of the neighborhoods in Chicago. There are young couples with children making Chicago their home. Clearly Chicago has problems but there are a lot of good things happening here too. It’s probably best for everybody that he leave town. What he doesn’t understand is that the people he’s leaving behind are better off that he’s gone. His attitude concisely demonstrates how I perceive the Tribune. A bunch of angry people complaining about “those people.” Take a bunch of Tribune colleagues with you.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 1:03 pm:
I also wonder who owns the billboard company.
- Sonny - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 1:22 pm:
Dennis was one of the first writers I ID’d as a jagbag on my own. I was probably about 11. Thanks for that, Dennis. When I got older, I realized what racket when you had going when you’d get a consulting contract and the Tribune would let you shill for your clients on their ed pages. Quite a contribution to your beloved home city and state. You won’t be missed.
- James Knell - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 1:25 pm:
My personal favorite:
=== “Old Dude Moves to Florida” is not really news… just sayin’ ===
- lincoln's beard - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 2:03 pm:
what neighborhood of chicago does dennis live in?
- R A T - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 2:15 pm:
If all old white men decided to move to Florida, I will be content and I promise I will never complain about the money going with them. In fact, if “colonization” donations are needed, I am happy to assist.
- He’s on to something here - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 2:34 pm:
When more people leave than arrive year after year and it’s a ever increasing deficit, it’s time to admit there’s a problem. The “Good riddance” people will have homes that devalue instead of appreciate like every other state. They’ll figure it out one day.
- Rich Hill - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 2:57 pm:
I did not realize Dennis Byrne was still alive.
- Well well well - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 3:00 pm:
See ya Dennis. Turn off the lights on your way out.
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 3:48 pm:
Lincoln’s Beard — Apparently he lives in the far north Chicago neighborhood of Northbrook. Very far north. Very very far north.
- Enviro - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 4:04 pm:
This is a quote from the article by Dennis Byrne:
“But by their greed and incompetence, they have chosen to ride (Chicago and Illinois) down to an infamous, tragic ending.”
Negative comments such as this are unfairly exaggerating the problems in Illinois.
Our state is populated by many good people. The new Governor is doing his best to lead this state back to prosperity. I think he will succeed.
- Proud.to.be.a.liberal - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 4:06 pm:
Ridiculous. Taking a shot at our state that gave him so much because he’s retiring to Florida? Sheesh. Just get on with your life, man.
- Boone's is Back - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 4:49 pm:
Can the Trib Editorial Board move to Flordia too?
- 17% Solution - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 5:21 pm:
“The “Good riddance” people will have homes that devalue instead of appreciate like every other state. They’ll figure it out one day.”
Not a “good riddance people” more like a “whatever person”. But before the population of Illinois started going down it was going up. You can’t predict it will keep going down.
Speaking of predictions, here is Zillow, who rates the Illinois housing market “hot”. https://www.zillow.com/il/home-values/
- justacitizen - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:01 pm:
Couple thoughts: 1) I live downstate and when I visit Chicago I get angry too; 2) Been to Chicago and Key West in the past year-No brainer if you have a choice.
- West Side the Best Side - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 9:29 pm:
justacitizen- No brainer for Key West in Chicago’s winter. Rest of the year, especially summer, not too sure. (OK, Key West for Fantasy Fest.)
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Oct 23, 19 @ 10:09 pm:
Tribune gonna Trib.
I’d hoped the abysmal failure of the Rauner Experiment would have snapped them to their senses.
Instead, they’ve washed their hands of any responsibility for Rauner and, in fact, seem to think he just did not Trib hard enough.
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Oct 24, 19 @ 6:48 am:
As was the case with Rauner. JB owns.
- 17% Solution - Thursday, Oct 24, 19 @ 3:17 pm:
“Couple thoughts: 1) I live downstate and when I visit Chicago I get angry too”
Anger tourism? Is that a thing?