Divide Illinois in 2 (Chicago, Springfield, Champaign: jobs, college, move)

[Avengerfire]

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.

More of a Chicago area persons income is paid in various taxes. You kind missed that huh?

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by illini84

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?

Obviously, if you felt so highly of downstate Illinois you would be living there, not in Florida.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by illini84

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?

I didn't b*tch about how much taxes I'm paying. I made a comparison of respective tax burdens to flatten your point. Someone who can't tell the difference perhaps ought not make such snarky inquiries as "who's the smart one?".

[illini84]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

More of a Chicago area persons income is paid in various taxes. You kind missed that huh?

I realize this, but my point is that if you're so bothered by paying taxes proportionate to your higher income, live somewhere where the cost of living isn't so much. You'll be making less, spending less, and paying less in taxes.

[Jons99]

Originally Posted by illini84

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?

And to where no good jobs are?

[j33]

No thanks, I'll stay up here, with a good job, my family, friends, and a vibrant community.

[illini84]

Originally Posted by Jons99

And to where no good jobs are?

I known PLENTY of people who are making over $100,000 a year in southern Illinois. And $100,000 there goes twice as far as in Chicago.

And it's not like everyone in Chicago has a good job! If you're college-educated, you're probably going to have a decent job regardless of where you live.

[jojojohnson76]

Yeah, I love the quote that someone knows someone working at Best Buy making $120,000. Big deal. Do you know what $100,000/yr in Chicago is vs. $100,000/yr in southern Illinois?

And illini84 is exactly right, if you are college educated in southern Illinois, there obviously aren't going to be as many jobs in so. Ill as there are in Chicago, but the jobs are still out there. My dad has a good job with the US Dept. of Veteran's Affairs and my mom is a real estate agent, and both live in a town of 7,000.

At the end of the day, this post was just the perfect stage and audience for elitists like Jons99. Sorry, buddy, but not everyone wants to live in Chicago. I moved to a city as well, and love it, but I don't try to make others feel like I am superior to them because of where I chose to live. Anyone CAN live in a big city, a lot of people just choose not to. Get over it.

[illini84]

Originally Posted by jojojohnson76

I moved to a city as well, and love it, but I don't try to make others feel like I am superior to them because of where I chose to live. Anyone CAN live in a big city, a lot of people just choose not to. Get over it.

Well said--my point exactly. Thank you.

[Switch625]

The US constitution forbids carving up states to create other states, so this whole subject is DOA. The only exception to this, West Virginia, is a special case because that part of Virginia rejoined the Union during the Civil War.