Divide Illinois in 2 (Chicago, Decatur, Danville: low income, tenant, voucher)

[arpschneider]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

From what I have seen from looking at major the power plants in Illinois so far, Northern Illinois would not have to buy any power from anywhere else if it was cut off from Southern Illinois.

Except everyone seems to forget about the HUGE coal-fired power plant at Kinkaid that sends electricity to Chicagoland via two HUGE transmission lines that transverse from Central IL (I happen to live between the paths of the two of them!). If that were to go off-line, I think Chicago would be in a world of hurt.

Clintucky was a debacle due to gross mis-management by Baldwin Associates, the building contractor during construction. Rumors abounded of workers sitting in hallways with pieces of 2 X 4's with a nail in it that the worker would be pounding back-and-forth in and out of the board for WEEKS at a time whenever a supervisor walked by. IP, the original parent owner and their stockholders, should have borne much more of the cost overruns than allowing such things to be passed along to the ratepayers. Our oversight regulation hard at work!

Faithfully,

G.A.

[jojojohnson76]

I think we should remain the way we are, cause I like the even number of 50.

[guvjim]

Originally Posted by sonicreducer

I guess I'm sympathetic both ways, and ultimately think this is a dumb decision for either section of the state. Downstaters are always going to ***** about Chicago, and vice-versa, because the "exchanges" occurring between these groups are generally pretty invisible. We usually only react to what we see affecting our daily lives. Why should a city person care or understand the agricultural output of the state? Well, they should, but they don't. And similarly, why should a farmer care about 'big city' business and factories, etc? It's a two way street for sure.

Downstate folks get confused about all the money (which they perceive as partially 'theirs') that gets dumped into Chicago transit and highway projects because when they DO come to visit the city they are confronted with paying exorbitant tolls just to drive on the decrepit roads. There are no tolls downstate, so people tend to think of Chicago as being this money pit when it comes to transportation funding. Add on the reputation of some of the unions who staff highway projects, and people think they are just being hookwinked. I'm not saying this is right, but this is just how it is. And there really are not a "lot" of roads downstate that need funded, when compared with the labyrinth of roads in Chicagoland. There are a couple arterial interstates that link the state with other states. I actually think that Illinois is behind the curve when it comes to decent state roads and stuff like this. Wisconsin has downstate Illinois beat by a long shot in that regard. Here in WI we have awesome 4 lane state roads that are every bit as nice as the interstate, all over the darn state. I rarely see downstate IL roads being refurbished or widened or anything like that.

There's also mounting tension downstate due to Chicago directly 'exporting' it's poor from Cabrini and other public housing areas (and their accompanying problems) to other smaller cities. That has definitely bred a lot of hostility.

Downstaters dislike the Gov. because he doesn't hide his disdain for them like other people in public office have in the past. The capitol is in Springfield (for better or worse), and he should live there, and send his kids to school there. If that's too unappealing to you, then you shouldn't run. This holier-than-thou attitude really chafes on people. And Illinois state government has a reputation for being pretty corrupt over the years, and this is due in large part to the "Chicago machine". This gives one the feeling that your vote really doesn't count most of the time.

I do think that many downstate folks tend to understate Chicago's importance to the state, but I don't think that is out of mean-spiritedness. They just fail to see Chicago's impact on their life in any way. But if it was gone, they definitely would. Seceding would probably show both sides what they've been missing, but is that really a viable option?? Maybe we should just have a cultural exchange program where the city folks go to the country for a week and vice versa, and try and make a go at things. Maybe then everyone would respect each other a little more, and have a little perspective....

Very Well Said!

[pi314159]

Originally Posted by illini84

There is only one county between Kankakee County and Cook County. And Kankakee County is in the northern third of the state. That's not "downstate".

Just another example of how Chicago people think there is Chicago, then everywhere else all jumbled together.

Technically, Rockford, QuadCities, even Galena are "downstate".

Actually "downstate" refers not so much as N-S or E-W, but it's more like a hill. Where Chicago sits atop the hill and the rest of the state is "downhill" of it.

Fortunately the rest of the state is not generally "downwind" of the city. It's quite bad enough having "IT" roll "Downhill" from the city/county/collar counties...

oops, missed the "SH", sorry......
BTW, you can keep your beaver toothed Gov. as well as King Richard....we don't need either one. Where's Jane Byrne when you need her to shake up Chicago politics again.

[j33]

Oh God, it is the thread that will never die. And, Blago wouldn't not have been elected if you 'downstaters' didn't vote for him too (no, I did not vote for the guy).

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I think Chicago has more people than most of Southern Illinois.

[computerguysd]

FWIW, I grew up downstate and I think if Chicago poltiticians would quit passing Chicago style laws and regulations that get enforced statewide, it would go a long way in reducing friction between the north / side ends of the state.

The gun laws in the state are draconian and completely out of step with the population outside of Chicago, and maybe East St. Louis, and the nanny state laws like the smoking ban aren't too popular, either.

There's definitely a rural / urban divide in the state and the resentments have been there for as long as I can remember.

[pi314159]

Originally Posted by j33

Oh God, it is the thread that will never die. And, Blago wouldn't not have been elected if you 'downstaters' didn't vote for him too (no, I did not vote for the guy).

It's hard to outvote millions of Dems alive and/or dead, voting once or more each. So don't say downstate had much to do with voting him in...And we had nothing to do with RMD....

BTW, how many voters were signed up for the last election by "Resurection Mary".

This thread is to show those not from Illinois or Chicago, that there is animosity on both sides of the fence. To those interested in our politics: you can pick up a book about Chicago politics at the turn of the century (1900) and really not much has changed except the names and the amount of money involved. But there is a giant sucking money pit on the shores of Lake Michigan in this state.

Too bad the original dividing line between the Wisconsin teritory and Illinois wasn't kept. Then we'd have Chicago, Wisconsin....has a nice ring to it to me....

[linicx]

Originally Posted by Miserable in Florida

Hey Steve-O,

Any advice for a couple of (almost) empty nesters? We are in our early 40's and have a daughter that needs to finish-up high school (schooling is very important to us), but my husband and I are looking to move to the city. We love the beat of the city, and quite frankly being from Florida for so long....we are done with the "burb" life style. Any advice on an area that is considered "the city", but will not sacrifice the safety and well being of a teenager?

You're going to have a hard time doing that anywhere because most cities of any size are a crime magnet. I like central Illinois - all five counties - because the smaller communities have surprises.. Not only are the doctors and little hospitals pretty draned good, so are the schools. In my area there are 8 hospitals, 10 HS, 2 private k-12 that are not churh related, 2 or more k-12 that are church operated, 5 jr. colleges, 3 colleges one univerrsity, and there are a couple other colleges within 50 miles. we also have 3 malls, several strip malls and a casino!

The beauty of central Illinois is the whole area is acative all year. There is always something to do are see of participate in that is inexpensice or free. Plus the area is rich with history, culture and intersing plaves to discover. And it's mid-way between Chinatown and the Cardinal's new ballpark. If you area uptown, downtown, artsy. symphony, theater sports, bbq, fiddles, comedy, jazz, uptight or low-key, like to explre great parks, or spend outragious amouhts at speicalty shops, we have something for you.

The only question is whether or not you want to exchange safety.for a more laid back lifestyle. Society ain't like it was forty-years ago.

Decide the kinds of things you want to do, or see, or learn more about before you visit, send the list, amd If we have it, I'll find it for you. I have cousins and local phonbooks. The rest is easy.

[linicx]

Tjere's an old joke that says "Anything south of State and Madison is Southern Illinois. Having lived here for many years, and having speant many years reading Mike Royko I still believe the"Chicago machine" runs the state - not much else matters. No Chicago pol likes Stpringlfield; it's too primitive compared to the Windy City,and there isn't any really large size body of water. Blame Linclon. He's the dude that lobbied to get the capitol moved from Vandalia to he center of the state. .

"They" are not going to divide Illinois into pieces any more than Arnold will divvy up California to please San Diego. The only thing you can do is stop voting for Chicago politicians. I quit once Jim Thomspson got it. He set the bar way too high for Ryan and the rest of 'em. If you want to make a difference, get elected and play the game. .