Destroying Dreams
In many parts of the United States it is thought that you can get a job or start a successful business, buy a house or two then settle into as they say on HGTV your forever home, reach your golden years thinking you can set yourself up for security and perhaps a low key living. But after all of that hard work government comes in and makes it so regulated, so expensive, and overrule local jurisdictions. Then said government says it is too expensive, say that someone who has done it better owes more to the government as the government is no longer representing interests and representing some twisted ideology or is so corrupt that they cannon handle themselves.
A number of years a go I did what a number of people I know did and that was to have residence in one state, work and live in another state, come home on weekends with the thought that eventually I could move back “home”. Unfortunately the “home” state is Illinois. My wife had fostered a nice property in Illinois. It is a property that was used to raise the children and could be the “forever” home.
Illinois makes rules that force out state people to do things that do not apply to them or takes away their municipal sovereign control. Telling zoning how they are to zone, telling schools how, and what they must teach. Forcing life altering procedures on children. Fostering an environment that will hammer entry level employment. Making work rules that seem interesting at best.
In Illinois it does not seem to matter if it is Chicago or out state, there is a vacuum of cash from residents of Chicago and residents in the Illinois outside of Chicago that sucks money in the name of various taxes with the destination of improperly funded and questionably managed government systems such as public transportation, funding the harboring of illegal aliens, questionable medical support, and overpaid government employees.
Illinois via Chicago has never met a tax they do not like to charge and raise. Business are walking with their wallets. Individuals are trying to get out. If an Illinois municipality is on the border with a tax and policy friendly state municipality those other state’s municipalities look strong compared to the Illinois. The Iowa Quad Cities are much stronger than the Illinois Quad Cities, western Indiana excluding the Hammond or Gary area due to the exit of the steel industry years ago are much stronger than the towns on the Illinois border, Missouri, Kentucky, and Wisconsin have strength.
For as long as I have lived and that included being born in Chicago, growing up in Burbank, IL, college and two years of marriage in Central Illinois before escaping to Minnesota when Minnesota was not totally crazy. Due to family concerns we made a return to Illinois but out state. There were some good experiences, but eventually I saw the real heart of Illinois government. Chicago Democrats control the process. Being a Chicago suburban Republican for governor makes no difference.
The governor can only sign what the legislature sends for signature. Illinois is controlled by Chicago democrats. Out state Democrats are controlled by Chicago Democrats. And what has that given us?
Taxes, regulations, and threats of new taxes and regulations. For the longest time Iowa taxed social security earnings and Illinois did not. Now Iowa does not tax social security earnings and Illinois is threatening to tax social security. Iowa had a “progressive” tax system with a high rate and reverse it to a flat tax and a lower rate. Business growing in Iowa, Illinois they are fleeing. Iowa is working on property tax control and Illinois keeps mandating new property tax things.
Business is so bad in Illinois that many companies are leaving including Pepsico and yes, the Bears! Corporate head quarters leaving including Citadel, Caterpillar, and Boeing. 218 businesses leaving since 2022, second in loses only to California.
Illinois is instituting 57 new taxes in 2026.
Those who can afford to leave will. When they leave someone else pays the bill. The Democrat assembly still makes wasteful money demands. There is no stopping. Is it not possible that the Illinois Democrats have a disease?
Is removing Governor Pritzker enough? Is replacing Brandon Johnson as mayor of Chicago enough? Is it even possible to convince voters in different districts to wake up and see what is going on and change who they vote for representation in Springfield?
Many families have made an investments in Illinois. They would rather stay than go through the effort to move elsewhere. But what really is the limit? And who will be the last one standing?