Earlier this year during my travels I had a chance to traverse southern Illinois a couple of times. Once cutting across east to west to McLean at old US 66, and famous for the Dixie Truck Stop. From there it was westward to Carthage by the Mississippi. On the return trip I crossed southern Illinois from Hannibal, MO and exiting at the Indiana line. What beautiful lush farmland! Gorgeous.
My trip was eyeopening. Southern Illinois was as much unrelated to Chicago as Heaven is to Hell. What pity I had for these wonderful people that their hard earned wealth was being confiscated to fill the slop trough of the Chicago gibs-me-dats. Unless someone told you, you would think you were driving through Tennessee or Kentucky or some other reasonable state.
These people need to break free from their oppressors. They have nothing in common with the northern part of their state. They need to secede.
Thank you for the kind words about central and southern Illinois.
Your understanding is correct.
Great observation, I’m in the other end of “downstate” but the same is true. They always tell me “Chicago is the economic engine of Illinois”. Well, I reply, how long do you suppose that engine would run without any freaking FOOD? It’s as if you moved Manhattan into a corner of Iowa - the state would turn blue on the basis of sheer numbers. You can win three counties and become governor in IL - Pat Quinn did.
its on their hands...
I wish only one thing...that all state/county/city pensions in Illinois are paid ONLY to those who stay in the state and live in the crap they have created...