Gov. Pritzker should establish an Office to make a few bucks off those fleeing the state

Political corruption? Check. High taxes going higher? Check. Political bosses who get richer and richer while taxpayers get poorer and poorer? Check.

If there’s one thing Illinois does just about better than any state, it’s this:

The Shut Up and Take It State on the prairie has lost 157,000 people over the past five years.

And the way billionaire Gov. Big Boy is governing, raising taxes with plans to raise even more in 2020 — while his wealth is stashed in offshore accounts — even more Illinoisans will leave.

Our politicians are doing what they can, trying to stupify us with pot and sports betting, and they’ll probably legalize prostitution next, so the rest of the state will be like Springfield, but here’s the question:

How can Illinois take advantage of the Illinois Exodus and monetize outmigration from Madiganistan?

Gov. Pritzker — with Boss Madigan’s approval — might want to create a new bureaucracy:

When taxpayers finally flee and get out for good, the GSGBO will require a modest exit fee.

The office won’t point refugees toward places like Naples, Florida, where the Chicago politicians who are fat with corruption and huge pensions retire. It’s expensive to live with politicians.

Instead, taxpayers fleeing as part of the Illinois Exodus will be directed to lovely and affordable destinations like Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Ireland, Bolivia, Belize (Stoner Fisherman Paradise) or one of the world’s many other beautiful countries.

The Shut Up and Take It State on the prairie has lost 157,000 people over the past five years.

I suspect the true situation is worse than it appears. Why?

That figure of 157,000 is NET residents, but that fails to describe the net economic effect. I'm just guesstimating, but if 300,000 people with incomes averaging $100k are lost (move out, pass away), and 143,000 people with incomes averaging $30k are gained (move in, are born, etc.), that's an earned income loss of $25.71 BILLION dollars.

Further, those leaving will be taking all possible assets with them. Those arriving on average likely have little in the way of assets. That loss will be even larger.

Worse yet, those leaving are generally Illinois' most productive citizens. Very many are small business owners who employ others. This economic loss will exceed the first two combined.

The new Governor (Pritzker) and Dem supermajority legislature are enacting measure after measure sure to increase the exodus of above average income residents, and, most likely, attract new residents who at best will be a break even with regard to State of Illinois resources.

Spending is going up, and there is no solution to the pension crisis (which is much worse than generally discussed, as hundreds of local gov't pension plans are also in deep doo-doo.)

Revenue is desperately needed, but, taxes and fees are so far beyond any kind of optimum rates that the Laffer curve is not even visible in the rear view mirror. The business climate is revolting, and (ex-gov) Rauner failed to significantly improve it. Gov. Pritzker and his allies appear to want to (with the exception of a few favored business "buddies") smash it to bits. Economic growth on the order of China in the decade after Y2K is almost a minimum need... But, where would even a fraction of that come from? High tech? Are you kidding me? (Would Microsoft or Boeing or Google or Facebook or SpaceX even consider locating major operations in IL without a look of disgust on their face?) Energy? Fat chance. "Green energy"? Fatter chance. AG? Golly, IL farmers are terrific, but no way are they going to crank out an addition of even 1% per year to IL's GDP on a consistent basis -- they and the land are already close to "maxed out", and, they are businessmen & women too. The only question, really, is when the collapse will be.

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