Speaking from a viewpoint on the outside, I would have expected those in Illinois but outside of the Chicago area would understand better than most the nation, how crooked Chicago politics are and how they bring down those outside their area with their influence.
But the voting record in 2008 does not show that to be true for the majority.
You have to understand that Chicago is the original Bread and Circuses town. Here’s a great book on the founder of the Cook County Democratic Party:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Gambler-King-Clark-Street/dp/0809328933
He’s a pimp, gambler and gangster. His replacements all follow the same pattern. The people eat it up because they really want to believe in magic: something for nothing.
Here in Illinois we balance the budget by borrowing, damn our own state constitution. The media squawk, but then head out to dinner with our local pols. I live in the North Korea of America, but we eat alright.