Posted on 02/03/2014 4:45:57 PM PST by bestintxas
President Barack Obama's home state, which has been governed by Democrats throughout his national political career, has slipped in the rankings and now has the third-worst unemployment rate in the nation. Though the jobless rate was the same in December 2013 (8.6%) as in December 2012, the state's labor force declined by a staggering 80,000 workers, according to Michael Lucci of the Illinois Policy Institute.
Across the same period, the national unemployment rate fell by 1.3%--though that, too, was partly driven by an exodus of workers from the labor force, albeit less dramatic than in Illinois. Lucci observes: 'The state now suffers from its worst labor force participation rate since June 1978. It has been nearly 36 years since such a small percent of the working-age population in Illinois found it worthwhile to search for work."
In terms of policy, Illinois represents utopia, at least in Obama's imagination: high taxes, high regulation, high levels of (mandatory) union membership, and one-party rule. Yet the state is a financial failure and remains in economic free-fall, as hundreds of thousands of residents leave the state (often for more conservative, growth-friendly states). A recent pension reform bill will have only modest effects on the state's unfunded liabilities.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
No wonder why Texas is growing jobs and prosperous.
Illinois is about to lose me. I place its chances at 1 out of 5.
I left after finding work in Madison WI. Many are held back because they cannot afford to sell their houses. We lost all equity and then some.
2 more years and we are gone.
Socialism sounds pretty good until you have to actually live under it.
Then it is not so much fun anymore.
Hey - what is the first thing a public union goon does when he retires after 20 years of working on a OT spiked pension with free medical care for life that is now tax free due to his/her “disability?”
A: Move to a low tax and right to work state.
What do you do for a living? I’ll find you something.
Hope ‘n Change.
Obama at nearly 54% approval in Illinois, according to Gallup.
Morons.
Carry no guns
Don't stop for gas.
Don't stop for food.
Obey the speed limit.
After 27 years, we left in 2005 for the Rocky Mountain West. No regrets. At all.
LOL--please stay to the right. Don't make me pass you on the shoulder.
I have about 2.5 years left then we're outta here too. Every time I find a job out of state in a warmer climate (which I desperately need to move to for health reasons) I'm begged to not move until both kids are out of high school.
The day after the youngest graduates, I'm burning the house down, collecting the insurance and getting the hell out of this state.
I eschew the tolls except for the minor toll on I-80 south of Chicago.
I’m in technical sales. Mrs L is in hospitality sales. We want out of Illinois. What can you do for us?
Detroit, on the other hand, is a new frontier. (One of the reasons I wish to move there).
Where do you want to live? I’ve been a career counselor and recruiter since the 1980’s.
We are planning a move to Michigan in the next year or two.
I grew up in Detroit and have always loved that city.
heh, PS Chicago sux. I have family there and it always did. Don’t suppose you are unfortunate enough to live there now?
Nah, I live out in the ‘burbs with the Republicans. Did live in the belly of the beast for a while, though.
My family there live in Wilmette.
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