What about the rest of illinois (excluding chicago & burbs (Springfield: real estate, houses)

[TennisDD]

Illinois & Chicago do have differences, but many similarities. The rest of Illinois is not all farmers as the stereotype goes. Near the metro east, there are hundreds of thousands on the other side of St. Louis.
Also, you have cities like Peoria, Springfield, Rockford, Champaign/Urbana, Decatur that all have the same crap that all of suburban sprawl has in Chicago. Go to an Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, etc. and you will find Borders, Chillis, Targets, etc.
And most of those living in the burbs stay in the burbs 95% of the time, if not more.
So really no difference. Weather about the same, a little cooler up here, geography the same, flat as a pancake.
Deep Southern Illinois is beauituful though.

[scarletneon]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

The Chicago Skyway is now.

You forget the train lines (were built by private companies),streetcars,and buses were run by private companies before the CTA was created. The CTA has been nothing but bad news since its inception.

Yes, but the rest of them AREN'T.

I didn't forget that the transit lines were private entities. Attrill's post is right on the money.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

Yes, but the rest of them AREN'T...

In the future, the number of tollways that become private will increase. The Chicago Skyway was the FIRST in the U.S. to go private and that was only a couple years ago.

[scarletneon]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

In the future, the number of tollways that become private will increase. The Chicago Skyway was the FIRST in the U.S. to go private and that was only a couple years ago.

Great, but I'm also talking about the tons of other miles of highways that magically pay for themselves without tolls or privatization.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

Great, but I'm also talking about the tons of other miles of highways that magically pay for themselves without tolls or privatization.

Two words: Gas Tax.

Also,in Illinois, the tolls roads help pay for roads statewide. People in or travelling through the Chicago area are paying tolls to build and maintain roads throughout the WHOLE state.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

The Chicago Skyway is now.

You forget the train lines (were built by private companies),streetcars,and buses were run by private companies before the CTA was created. The CTA has been nothing but bad news since its inception.

And other public transit systems are wonderful and run smoothly. Ever been to Paris, London, Munich, or even New York?

It's not the fact that the CTA is public, it's the fact that it's poorly managed.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Two words: Gas Tax.

Also,in Illinois, the tolls roads help pay for roads statewide. People in or travelling through the Chicago area are paying tolls to build and maintain roads throughout the WHOLE state.

That has nothing to do with the privatization argument. In fact, it works against your privatization argument since you're just pointing out more ways we subsidize private automobile ownership. Per mile, it's MUCH more expensive to do the following compared to public transit funding:

1. Have everyone buy a car
2. Maintain all of the roads, bridges, etc.
3. Fight wars to stop interruptions in the oil supply
4. Subsidize American fuel sources like ethanol
5. Bail out the American auto industry
6. Pay for the negative externalities associated with automobile use (pollution, sprawl, and accidents to name a few).

The CTA needs more funding and better management, period. Privatization of the CTA would be a disaster. Passenger rail systems have rarely been profitable throughout history, and need to be viewed as an essential government function.

[coldwine]

... What about the rest of Illinois?

Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, and then I lived/attended school in the city of Chicago.

I can honestly say that the entire state of Illinois might as well be Indiana or Michigan for all that I know about it. It's foreign territory. It's also a complete and total waste of Chicago tax revenue. You're fooking welcome, jerks.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

...It's not the fact that the CTA is public, it's the fact that it's poorly managed.

I do not think it will ever be possible for the CTA to be managed well without being in private hands.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

That has nothing to do with the privatization argument...

It was not meant to be. It was just a response to Supernerdgirls comment which really had nothing to do with an arguement for or against privatization to begin with.