Divide Illinois in 2 (Chicago, Naperville, Joliet: real estate, buy, college)

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by illini84

Actually, Cook County has one of the highest poverty rates (read: most tax money goes HERE for welfare, food stamps, etc.). Cook County has a poverty rate of over 15%, while southern Illinois counties average around 9%. WE'RE tired of paying for YOU.

Show me some figures of how much assorted tax revenue comes from the Chicago area and how much the state gives the Chicago area in funds. I think you would eat your words.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by illini84

Actually, Cook County has one of the highest poverty rates (read: most tax money goes HERE for welfare, food stamps, etc.). Cook County has a poverty rate of over 15%, while southern Illinois counties average around 9%. WE'RE tired of paying for YOU.

I'm sick of hearing this argument, and here's why: the reason we have so many impoverished up here is because we actually provide services for them that downstate municipalities either can't or won't. We are a poverty magnet; we draw them off your hands. And every time that paradigm shifts just a little bit, every time some of them start filtering into, say, Decatur or Peoria or the Chambana area (see: Rantoul, Danville), you all scream "Oh my God, stop sending your detritus down here! TAKE THEM BACK!" If we didn't provide the services that draws the poor here, the poor would scatter to the winds, including your neck of the woods, and you'd be BEGGING us to take them back and would be grateful that your welfare dollars are spent up here so that you don't have to deal with them. So pay up and like it. The rest of us already pay AND we have to actually deal with them hands-on.

[Jons99]

And while the poverty level in Chicago may be a bit higher than other parts of the state, the fact that the the average income in Cook County is still higher than the state average and the average income in the rest of the Chicago area is much higher than the state average, that shows you who exactly is paying the bill to support those people...

And then there is education... Take a few minutes at the ISBE website, most of the central and southern Illinois school districts rely on state dollars for anywhere between 50%-90% of their revenue while most of the suburban districts are in the 10%-30% range.. Who is paying for who??

[brenty]

Do not forget that many of the Chicago Suburbs particularly the North Shore, Far Northern, and Western Suburbs are very Republican. In fact in Evanston, IL as many wealthy residents move in there have been more votes for local Republicans. Apparently a few years ago a Republican came close to being mayor. Evanston has only had one Democrat mayor, who is the current one.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by brenty

Do not forget that many of the Chicago Suburbs particularly the North Shore, Far Northern, and Western Suburbs are very Republican. In fact in Evanston, IL as many wealthy residents move in there have been more votes for local Republicans. Apparently a few years ago a Republican came close to being mayor. Evanston has only had one Democrat mayor, who is the current one.

Evanston only one Democrat mayor? Evanston is liberal as hell. I have to look this up. Evanston is a landslide every National election.

[illini84]

Originally Posted by Jons99

...the average income in Cook County is still higher than the state average...

Yes, but the cost of living in Chicago is MUCH higher than in southern Illinois:

"To maintain the same standard of living, your salary of $50,000 in Carbondale, Illinois should increase to $73,377 in Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Illinois. Stated another way, it's 46.8% more expensive to live in Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Illinois than Carbondale, Illinois"

[source: Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed

Of course your incomes are going to be higher! This is a ridiculous argument.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Let them become part of Misery Missouri then.

No thanks.

Personally I think everything's just fine the way it is, but I don't know as much about it since I don't live in Illinois. But in Missouri we have our own problems. We don't need to take on half another state.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by illini84

Yes, but the cost of living in Chicago is MUCH higher than in southern Illinois:

"To maintain the same standard of living, your salary of $50,000 in Carbondale, Illinois should increase to $73,377 in Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Illinois. Stated another way, it's 46.8% more expensive to live in Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Illinois than Carbondale, Illinois"

[source: Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed

Of course your incomes are going to be higher! This is a ridiculous argument.

Well guess what: when the tax man comes, he's not interested in cost-of-living differences. He's interested in how much money you make, how much your goods cost and how much your property is worth. That means we're paying a far heavier burden up here than you are down there. So we don't want to hear how "your" tax dollars are feeding "our" welfare state. If you want to play that game, let's divide Illinois in two indeed, and see how well you maintain that web of lightly traveled interstates and state highways without upstate revenue.

[RikardW]

Originally Posted by Drover

I'm sick of hearing this argument, and here's why: the reason we have so many impoverished up here is because we actually provide services for them that downstate municipalities either can't or won't. We are a poverty magnet; we draw them off your hands. And every time that paradigm shifts just a little bit, every time some of them start filtering into, say, Decatur or Peoria or the Chambana area (see: Rantoul, Danville), you all scream "Oh my God, stop sending your detritus down here! TAKE THEM BACK!" If we didn't provide the services that draws the poor here, the poor would scatter to the winds, including your neck of the woods, and you'd be BEGGING us to take them back and would be grateful that your welfare dollars are spent up here so that you don't have to deal with them. So pay up and like it. The rest of us already pay AND we have to actually deal with them hands-on.

Yes, downstate has plenty of experience with your paradigm shifts. Every time a Cook County judge sentences one of your finest to the Department of Corrections, we welcome them with open arms, err, open bed space. But, as soon as the three hots and cot are gone they beat a path right back to Cook County and the welfare line.
Downstate has the perfect place for your weary and downtrodden.

[illini84]

Originally Posted by Drover

Well guess what: when the tax man comes, he's not interested in cost-of-living differences. He's interested in how much money you make, how much your goods cost and how much your property is worth. That means we're paying a far heavier burden up here than you are down there. So we don't want to hear how "your" tax dollars are feeding "our" welfare state. If you want to play that game, let's divide Illinois in two indeed, and see how well you maintain that web of lightly traveled interstates and state highways without upstate revenue.

I can solve this problem--move somewhere where it doesn't cost so much to live. Then you won't have to b*tch about paying so much in taxes. Who's the smart one?