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* A recent Gallup poll is getting a lot of play…
The phrase “if you don’t like it, then you can leave” might be a dangerous thing to say in Illinois.
According to a recent Gallup poll, the state would lose a quarter of its population if every resident who didn’t like it decided to leave it. The poll asked survey-takers to rate their state as a place to live, and Illinois had the highest percentage of people who said it is the worst place to live, at 25 percent.
Illinois was followed by Connecticut and Rhode Island, 17 percent of whose residents rated their states as the worst place to live.
The states with the highest rates in the “best possible state to live in” category were Texas (28 percent), Alaska (27 percent), Hawaii (25 percent) and Montana (24 percent). Only 3 percent of Illinoisans put their state in the same category.
* From Gallup…
Illinois has the unfortunate distinction of being the state with the highest percentage of residents who say it is the worst possible place to live. One in four Illinois residents (25%) say the state is the worst place to live, followed by 17% each in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Throughout its history, Illinois has been rocked by high-profile scandals, investigations, and resignations from Chicago to Springfield and elsewhere throughout the state. Such scandals may explain why Illinois residents have the least trust in their state government across all 50 states. Additionally, they are among the most resentful about the amount they pay in state taxes. These factors may contribute to an overall low morale for the state’s residents.
* Some state residents are, indeed, just bursting with local pride…
When asked to rate their state as a place to live, three in four Montanans (77%) and Alaskans (77%) say their state is the best or one of the best places to live. […]
Residents of Western and Midwestern states are generally more positive about their states as places to live. With the exception of the New England states of New Hampshire and Vermont, all of the top 10 rated states are west of the Mississippi River. In addition to Montana and Alaska, Utah (70%), Wyoming (69%), and Colorado (65%) are among the 10 states that residents are most likely to say their state is among the best places to reside. Most of these states have relatively low populations, including Wyoming, Vermont, North Dakota, and Alaska — the four states with the smallest populations in the nation. Texas, the second most populated state, is the major exception to this population relationship. Although it is difficult to discern what the causal relationship is between terrain and climate and positive attitudes, many of the top 10 states are mountainous with cold winters. In fact, the two states most highly rated by their residents — Montana and Alaska — are among not only the nation’s coldest states but also both border Canada.
* But Gallup didn’t publish results from another poll question it posed in that survey. When asked to describe their state, one option was “As good a state as any to live in in the United States.”
I asked the company for the responses to that question and they sent it to me late yesterday. Read all responses to all questions in all states by clicking here.
* According to the document, 54 percent of Illinoisans said their state was as good a place to live as any other state. Another 16 percent said Illinois was “One of the best possible states to live in in the United States.” And 3 percent said it was the best possible state to live in.
So, 73 percent had basically positive or neutral things to say about Illinois.
* Do not get me wrong here. We are obviously a messed up place if a quarter of all Illinoisans believe their state is the armpit of the universe. I just thought you’d like to see the rest of the poll.
* Meanwhile, Gallup released another national poll result earlier this month. Respondents were asked if they believed their state taxes were too high.
71 percent of Illinoisans said their taxes were too high, while only 26 percent said they weren’t too high.
Illinois ranked fourth, behind New York (77-21), New Jersey (77-22) and Connecticut (76-23).
Wisconsin residents, which pay higher personal income tax rates than Illinoisans, were way down the list at 51-46. That’s slightly above the 50-47 national state average.
Also, 51 percent of Hoosiers, who have high state rates, say their taxes are not too high, compared to 48 percent who said they were too high.
* The takeaway? The income tax hike is hugely unpopular and in the media almost daily. And the state government appears inept and floundering. It’s not hard to see why residents feel this way.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 10:45 am
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–When asked to rate their state as a place to live, three in four Montanans (77%) and Alaskans (77%) say their state is the best or one of the best places to live. […]–
Alaska gets 88% of its general funds revenue from taxes on North Slope oil, plus loads of federal aid. Montana is one of the states most dependent on the federal government in the union.
Illinois pays its own way and subsidizes other states.
http://americancityandcounty.com/finance/red-states-more-federally-dependent-blue-states
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 10:54 am
” Illinois had the highest percentage of people who said it is the worst place to live, at 25 percent.”
I believe that percentage is about 6 points higher than the number of voters that came out for this past primary.
Comment by South of I-80 Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 10:58 am
“71 percent of Illinoisans said their taxes were too high, while only 26 percent said they weren’t too high.
Illinois ranked fourth, behind New York (77-21), New Jersey (77-22) and Connecticut (76-23).”
Some people may say their taxes are too high, but they don’t seem to begrudge their higher incomes. States with higher taxes tend to have higher incomes also.
Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Illinois all have high per capita incomes. There’s no crying when the paychecks are deposited, I bet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_income
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 10:58 am
All that is true Slinger. Also true is that how a State operates it’s government is a huge factor in how happy it’s residents are. It seems that the less government is in your life, the happier people are. High taxes bug people. Intrusive government and high taxes make people angry enough to leave…or at least threaten to.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:01 am
“Many of the top 10 states are mountainous with cold winters.”
That may, oddly enough, explain why their residents rate them so highly: with such harsh climates and long distances between towns, only people who really, really WANT to live in Alaska or Montana stay there. The complainers quickly leave for warmer/greener climes.
Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:04 am
A Guy, I don’t know that people look to state government for “happiness.”
If they did, you’d think that more than 205 of registered voters would have weighed in last primary.
As far as state government being “instrusive,” what are you talking about?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:05 am
–That may, oddly enough, explain why their residents rate them so highly: with such harsh climates and long distances between towns, only people who really, really WANT to live in Alaska or Montana stay there. The complainers quickly leave for warmer/greener climes.–
Interesting point. Alaska pop., 710,000; Montana, 990,000. Lot of wide open spaces.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:10 am
I know several who have either left or are planning to leave Illinois. A couple good friends made a very compelling case for why they are planning to move to Tennessee as soon as they can sell their house and commercial properties in Illinois.
On the flip side in trying to recruit potential employees (especially physicians) to move here, it’s pretty darn tough to make a compelling argument.
Comment by Logic not emotion Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:10 am
=== wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:05 am:
1
A Guy, I don’t know that people look to state government for “happiness.”
If they did, you’d think that more than 205 of registered voters would have weighed in last primary.
2
As far as state government being “instrusive,” what are you talking about?===
Broke it down into 2 questions for my simple mind. 1- they aren’t looking for happy. They’re looking for satisfied and not a source of unhappiness.
2- Call Todd V. for an answer to this one. Or the poor schlep in Peoria with the fresh pot bust and the Twitter account or…google it.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:11 am
Secret Square
You’ve hit the nail squarely. Life in Alsaska and Montana outisde of Juno and Billings is an adventurous and demanding life. So ya you choose to do it and if you fail to do it well you move. To some extent Texas is similar miles between cities and full of small towns. Lots of people clustered around some large cities and the rest spread out in little towns
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:15 am
@A guy:
I disagree with you about state government being intrusive. I honestly don’t understand this opinion. I’ve not felt the least bit “intruded” upon. I think people that complain about government are complaining for the sake of complaining. But that’s just me.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:19 am
Fixing state government should be a priority. But it’s not. Blahs goes to prison how does Quinn proceed. He hands out 50 million in slush fund street money for the next election. Then telling lies to all the voters about taxes. The office holders of comptroller and treasurer back consolidating their offices but Madigan says no. Our taxes arent that high but our state services are terrible so the return on investment is terrible. Plus sales tax and gas tax are high.
Comment by Fed up Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:20 am
A Guy, I’d say Todd got pretty responsive government to his situation. You could only wish to get such a response, lol.
I offer no defense for the knuckleheads in the City of Peoria.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:26 am
Wordslinger - I’m sorry, what are you trying to say? It’s not clear.
That natural resources are the key to residents feeling as though their state is the best state to live in?
How does that explain others in the top 10 like Utah, New Hampshire, Vermont, Oregon, Minnesota and so on?
I am more inclined to think that the pride those residents feel in their state has more to do with their quality of life and perceived value for the taxes they pay than natural resources.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:27 am
Logic not emotion - there is more than anecdotal evidence to support what you feel you are seeing.
Census data clearly indicates that people are voting with their feet, and unfortunately they are not voting for Illinois.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:29 am
- South of I-80 - Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 10:58 am:
” Illinois had the highest percentage of people who said it is the worst place to live, at 25 percent.”
I believe that percentage is about 6 points higher than the number of voters that came out for this past primary.
Good point.
@Word:
The Fix makes some interesting points about how state government affects people’s feelings about their state:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/25/hate-your-state-you-probably-hate-your-state-government-too/
Comment by liandro Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:42 am
Insert film clip of Kevin Bacon trying to reassure the stampeding crowd from “Animal House.”
The poor numbers attest to the unhappiness and discontent that is out there (and which was previously pooh poohed and dismissed by some comment posters).
Many people are tired of being told that higher taxes are the panacea for all that ails Illinois. Taxes and fees have risen dramatically during the past thirty years and all that it seems to do is fuel more patronage hiring and wasteful spending. The essentials never get priority treatment and there are always some loose dollars to fund wasteful pet projects for the politicians and their friends.
Some people are not militantly opposed to taxing to support education and human needs, but they do not trust the stewardship of the entrenched politicians to allocate the money in an appropriate manner.
Comment by Upon Further Review Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:47 am
Maybe the dissatisfaction has to do with paying taxes and 1) not seeing the results of your payments going where you thought/were promised they would go and 2) legislators operating as independent contractors. They don’t listen to their constituents and don’t care. What are polls worth anyway? Lots of disconnect between what people want and what happens. That helps explain why voter turnout is so low. Why bother when the candidate who promised to do XYZ will do just the opposite? What’s the vote worth? We’re told if you’re unhappy, get out and vote. Yeah, right. Vote so your candidate that you wanted in will do everything to *** you off. So, yeah, given that, of course people think they pay too much in taxes. They’re not getting their money’s worth.
Comment by Geronimo Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:49 am
Intrusive government isn’t always obvious. A zillion “nanny state” laws in place of a bit of common sense are intrusive, especially if (a) you try to obey every one of them or (b) you are of libertarian mindset. Most citizens ignore a number of laws every day; government only becomes instrusive when it comes after us for breaking some law we personally consider stupid.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:49 am
I think these results reflect the massive negative propaganda campaign on the part of the Tribune and other media outlets. Congratulations!
Comment by forwhatitsworth Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:51 am
The results from neighboring states are kind of intriguing as well. MO and IN are #1 and #2 in the “good as any” category (66% and 63%, respectively). IA and WI both score in the 40s on “good as any” and “one of the best”, and 13% of Iowans place their state in the “best” category. What this tells me is that our neighbors generally feel, if not excited or enthusiastic, at least comfortable about life in their states, while the level of discomfort is significantly higher in IL.
Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:59 am
71 percent of Illinoisans said their taxes were too high, while only 26 percent said they weren’t too high.
Illinois ranked fourth, behind New York (77-21), New Jersey (77-22) and Connecticut (76-23).
In 2011, the latest year for which the Tax Foundation has data but after the increase in the Illinois income tax rate to 5%, Illinois actually ranked 13th in total state and local government tax burden per capita relative to income; the other states (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) ranked #1, 2 and 3, respectively. So perception equals reality in these states, but not in Illinois, where the perception is much worse than the reality.
Having lived in illinois for many years, I suspect that there is currently, and always has been, an intrinsic hostility among the population in the state to paying taxes and properly funding government, a hostility that exists everywhere to some degree but is stronger in Illinois. Whether this reflects an unusual degree of government corruption or the innate character of individuals who live in the state I do not know, but I do know that it is probably the root cause of Illinois’ fiscal problems. We can blame politicians all we want for pension underfunding, but at the end of the day they were simply giving the average Illinois voter what he/she demanded: high levels of government services combined with low taxes.
Comment by Andrew Szakmary Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 12:02 pm
- Upon Further Review - Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:47 am:
**Some people are not militantly opposed to taxing to support education and human needs, but they do not trust the stewardship of the entrenched politicians to allocate the money in an appropriate manner.**
Also a good point. The “corruption tax” has been incredibly high in Illinois for quite awhile. Hard to convince people that “this time” the politicians are going to spend it wisely.
Constant reports from Quinn’s administration of mismanagement (patronage, election year “aid” slush funds, maybe even the staff raises story) and lying (size of income tax hike; tax hike won’t be permanent) don’t help the cause either.
Comment by liandro Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 12:04 pm
The thing I believe that we don’t have in Illinois, is trust that Madigan and the rest of his gang will do what’s best for the State.
Springfield is finding out people vote with their feet. And leave.
Corruption tax is here to stay, our workers comp. laws are set up for trial lawyers to make a killing.Stuff like temporary taxes are non-sense
and the people know it.
Try to explain to a visitor why they should move here.
Comment by Mokenavince Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 12:29 pm
I’m tired of reading how Illinoisans aren’t the highest tax, so shouldn’t be complaining about taxes.
Please - the reason Illinoisans are complaining about their taxes is because of their lack of perceived value of their taxes.
Telling Illinoisans that their taxes don’t suck as much as other states is not how that problem is addressed. It isn’t about the amount, really.
Folks in other states may pay higher taxes, but they don’t feel that their taxes are being wasted. When that happens, then you start to read about how they believe that their taxes are too high.
So please understand why Illinoisans feel their taxes are too high. It is because they don’t see the value of their taxes - regardless of amount. High taxing states don’t have this problem - we do.
And please stop insulting the 25% of Illinoisans who thinks our state sucks hard enough to change the moon’s orbit. You guys sound like the waiters at an empty bankrupt restaurant claiming that folks don’t know good food or service is.
It doesn’t matter what your excuse is, folks are not happy. Insults won’t make them happier.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 12:47 pm
The “trust in government” numbers are also telling.
States With Lowest Trust in State Government
Illinois 28%
Rhode Island 40%
Maine 40%
Pennsylvania 46%
Louisiana 48%
California 49%
Maryland 49%
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 1:02 pm
“Try to explain to a visitor why they should move here.”
Why did Illinois and Chicago set tourism records recently?
I can’t speak for the rest of the state, but plenty of people have moved to Chicago and filled in neighborhoods that had problems in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Why did they come here? The neighborhoods were gentrified, and now they’re thriving. Some of the neighborhoods had open drug sales and prostitution back in the day. Now they’re full of young professionals.
The young professionals were not from the neighborhoods or in many cases Chicago, but they moved in anyway.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 1:07 pm
Amen Vanilla Man.
Comment by John A Logan Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 1:23 pm
Oh yeah, yeah.
Illinois is so attractive.
Really! Just look at the BLS data for Illinois. The size of the workforce hasn’t grown beyond what it was way back in 2004 ten years ago.
We have 2 million people on food stamps and roughly 6 million people classified as employed.
Do that math.
Comment by oz Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 1:27 pm
===RNUG - Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 11:49 am:
Intrusive government isn’t always obvious.====
Point very well made RNUG and in answer to Demoralized up a few:
Open a business in Illinois if you want to see how intrusive life can be. The regulations strangle you. Worse than the money is the TIME it takes to comply whether its IDOR (revenue), IEPA, Human Resource departments are way bigger than they need to be. You become successful, your sales taxes need to be deposited in real time, not once a month– how do you find out? With your penalty, that’s how. Worker’s Comp, Oy, it would take all day to explain this. Go sit for 90 minutes trying to get an emissions test taken some Saturday morning. Or take a vacation day to get it done. There are plenty of pains for residents. For business, it’s downright repressive.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 1:29 pm
LOL, Guy you have to take a day off to get an emissions test? How many days off do you take to get your car washed? That’s a federales mandate, anyway.
– For business, it’s downright repressive.–
==Add Site Selection to the growing list of media talking about Chicago. By securing more corporate facility investment projects than any other metro area in the U.S. last year, Chicago took home the trophy as the Top Metro in America.
With 373 facility deals, Illinois’ largest city easily outdistanced its closest competition — second-place Houston with 255 projects and third-place Dallas-Fort Worth with 178. Atlanta (164) and Detroit (129) rounded out the top five.–
Repression ain’t what it used to be. We shall overcome.
http://www.siteselection.com/issues/2014/mar/metros.cfm?s=mp
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 1:38 pm
== all it seems to do is fuel more patronage hiring ==
IL has the fewest state workers per capita in the nation. Laws against patronage have gotten much stricter since Big Jim was handing out state jobs.
VM Thanks for recognized on the record that Illinoisans are not the most highly taxed. Not even close as a percent of income.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 1:43 pm
VM Thanks for recognized on the record that Illinoisans are not the most highly taxed. Not even close as a percent of income.
This isn’t a record, and it seems that you are still missing the point.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 1:51 pm
Disillusioned partisans. Next.
Comment by Mittuns Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 2:03 pm
If I lived in a state like Mizzurah, with their nullification proposals, phony impeachments, big business tax cut plans, and dismantling of public education, I’d be dismayed too.
Comment by Mittuns Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 2:07 pm
====wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 1:38 pm:
LOL, Guy you have to take a day off to get an emissions test? How many days off do you take to get your car washed? That’s a federales mandate, anyway.
– For business, it’s downright repressive.–====
No one is forcing me to wash my car AND I can get it washed at 6am or 9pm if I want to.
Don’t count me as a person who doesn’t love Chicago and Illinois (especially those outstanding Southsiders like VM) I’m not leaving. No sir. I want to stay here and fix it. Make it the state nobody wants to leave. I want my children and grandchildren to stay nearby. My generation (and yours Slinger) are the ones who screwed it up. It’s our job to fix it.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 2:15 pm
Something else to consider. Illinois is the ONLY state in which “haters” — people who rank it as the worst — significantly outnumber “lovers” (those who rank it as either one of the best or THE best). In Rhode Island, the “hater” and “lover” percentages are equal; in EVERY other state, lovers outnumber haters even when there are plenty of haters (e.g. Mississippi, Louisiana, New Jersey).
Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 2:28 pm
“Illinois pays its own way and subsidizes other states. ”
As it should be.
Illinois is a (relatively) rich state, and a lot of that wealth was built on the backs of the poorer states.
Illinois *should* be paying its fair share.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 2:30 pm
Vanilla Man - the empty restaurant example is perfect. It’s a sign of arrogance.
The ruling party has run this state into the toilet. The people are fed up and many want to move and many hold a very poor opinion of their own state.
Yet the people in power, and their supporters can’t see it. They would rather insult or demean people who feel this way. Or discount their opinion altogether.
Comment by Befuddled Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 2:31 pm
–Illinois is a (relatively) rich state, and a lot of that wealth was built on the backs of the poorer states.–
How so?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 2:32 pm
wordslinger - Illinois enjoys more federal protection than say, Mississippi.
Enforcement of federal import / export laws, corruption laws / land management laws / federal contracts / military installations etc.
All of these federal protections have gone in to making Illinois a prosperous state.
The rich do enjoy more benefits than the poor, and should subsequently have to pay more.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 2:42 pm
Well said RNUG!
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 2:44 pm
–wordslinger - Illinois enjoys more federal protection than say, Mississippi.
Enforcement of federal import / export laws, corruption laws / land management laws / federal contracts / military installations etc.–
I have no idea what you’re talking about. Still, whatever you’re talking about, how did Illinois build it’s wealth “on the backs of poorer states.”
For the record, Mississippi is the most federally dependent state in the union. And they’re loaded with military bases.
http://wallstcheatsheet.com/personal-finance/10-states-most-dependent-on-the-federal-government.html/?a=viewall
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 2:57 pm
== Why did Illinois and Chicago set tourism records recently? ==
All the people who moved out of state coming back to visit friends and relatives?
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 3:14 pm
==They would rather insult or demean people who feel this way. Or discount their opinion altogether.==
For me it’s just a simple lack of understanding. I was born and raised in Illinois and in my 40 years in this state I’ve found it to be a great place to live and a great place to raise my family. If you or others are really upset then I suppose you have your reasons. I just don’t happen to agree with you or understand those reasons.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 3:15 pm
Did someone mention government “intrusion”?
The Mercatus Center might have something to say about that: http://freedominthe50states.org/ We rank 45th.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 3:24 pm
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Still, whatever you’re talking about, how did Illinois build it’s wealth “on the backs of poorer states.””
Ok, let’s try this…take the same logic that is used for Illinois’ proposed “Millionaire’s tax” or a graduated state income tax, and instead of applying it to ‘people’ apply it to ’states’.
Hence, the same result: “the rich need to pay their fair share”
It’s quite simple to understand if you try just a little.
Comment by Kilroy Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 3:30 pm
In fact, in the extended argument, replace “Bruce Rauner” with “Illinois”, and replace “a lower class union worker with a family living paycheck to paycheck” with “Alabama”
Surely “Illinois” can afford to pay more.
And don’t you DARE blame “Alabama” for its situation…not everyone can be born on third base like “Illinois” - blessed with copious amounts of fresh water, desirable geography for railroads and airports, copious natural resources, etc)
Comment by Kilroy Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 3:34 pm
Kilroy, how does that get you to Illinois built its wealth “on the back of poorer states?”
And since you’re trying to decipher the original Anonymous poster, could you tell me how “Illinois enjoys more federal protection than say, Mississippi.”
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 3:37 pm
Do the rich not profit off of their advantages over the poor?
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 3:39 pm
C’mon Word…you are acting obtuse on purpose.
Just apply all the arguments for the millionaire’s tax and the graduated income tax and it should be obvious.
The rich need to pay more. They should pay more because they profit more. Hence, Illinois *should* be subsidizing Alabama and Mississippi.
(These are not my arguments, by the way.)
Comment by Kilroy Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 3:49 pm
Sigh.
I questioned the original poster as to how Illinois built its wealth on “the back of poorer states” and how ” “Illinois enjoys more federal protection than say, Mississippi.”
If you can substitute “aimless rhetorical wandering” with “answering specific questions” you’d help me out.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 3:54 pm
If we speak only of the state income tax, why hasn’t there been an influx of people into Illinois from other nearby states that have higher top income tax rates? Why haven’t wealthier people left “high tax” Wisconsin in droves for “lower tax” Illinois, for example? The same can be said for some of our neighbors. Why haven’t Iowans left Iowa for “lower tax” Illinois?
I’m speaking only of the state income tax. That in and of itself does not appear to be a reason or at least a major reason why people move. The overall tax burden is something else and could carry much more weight, but where are all the disgruntled folks who came to Illinois to escape higher state income taxes elsewhere? Sometimes we fail to look at this side of the equation, and we just look at Illinois 5% income tax and compare that with Indiana, Florida and Texas.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 4:38 pm
…aimless rhetorical wandering…
Now there’s a theme for Quinn’s campaign. Thanks, Word.
Comment by Joe from Joliet Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 4:51 pm
Believe me, I understand why some people are bitter.
The housing crash wiped out hard-earned wealth in equity all over the country and threw millions out of work.
We had that here, in spades. Unlike other states, we had, at the same time, the grotesque spectacle of a sociopath governor being indicted, impeached, making a complete ass of himself all over the national media and finally convicted for being a cheap, stupid, bad crook.
That was embarrassing and stung, especially since 1.7 million Illinoisans voted for Blago for a second term, long after it was well-known what he was all about.
It’s hard to take responsibility for that, but there it is. What else can you do but sober up and move on?
If there’s a silver lining, I think the experience of Blago, and to a much lesser extent, Ryan, have people paying more attention to state government.
When times were flush in the early-mid oughts, no one I encountered in the city or suburbs gave a hoot about state government.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 14 @ 9:38 pm
We agree. They sure care now. If this poll is to believed, it’s a key element in how they evaluate quality of life in this state. That could be a very good thing while it lasts.
Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Apr 30, 14 @ 9:15 am