This exodus is occurring in Illinois as well (shown). Both states share similar budget problems along with predictable leadership responses -- higher taxes and reduced services.
What Illinois needs is genuine growth and that doesn't happen overnight. In the meantime, people get fed up and leave -- unless they have to sell their home or business.
I would disagree with your assertion that "growth" is what's needed.
The problems we're seeing, in many places, are the result of pursuing "growth" -- some seemingly-smart people show up and say that if only the local government will provide, up-front, a bunch of infrastructure and tax breaks right now, it'll all be made up in "growth" from businesses and people moving in and creating jobs and wealth.
Of course, what actually happens is the businesses and people move in, take advantage of everything provided, and then scream bloody murder about "expropriation" and move away when finally presented with the bill for all the services and breaks that enabled that "growth".
What is needed is a responsible expression of some kind of actual social contract, with obligations and benefits for both sides. But good luck rallying support for that on HN, where short-term lottery-syndrome has everyone blinded.
Illinois is 13B+ in debt with 80B+ in long term obligations that take the form of pensions and entitlements. The social contract is there -- and constitutionally protected.
The scales are out of balance, the corn crop has failed, Caterpillar wants to move, gas is the highest in the nation, gang violence is increasing, the schools are struggling, and everyone feels the weight.
We need to grow, we need to export, and we need to sustain it for a prolonged period of time.
Comments
This exodus is occurring in Illinois as well (shown). Both states share similar budget problems along with predictable leadership responses -- higher taxes and reduced services.
What Illinois needs is genuine growth and that doesn't happen overnight. In the meantime, people get fed up and leave -- unless they have to sell their home or business.
I would disagree with your assertion that "growth" is what's needed.
The problems we're seeing, in many places, are the result of pursuing "growth" -- some seemingly-smart people show up and say that if only the local government will provide, up-front, a bunch of infrastructure and tax breaks right now, it'll all be made up in "growth" from businesses and people moving in and creating jobs and wealth.
Of course, what actually happens is the businesses and people move in, take advantage of everything provided, and then scream bloody murder about "expropriation" and move away when finally presented with the bill for all the services and breaks that enabled that "growth".
What is needed is a responsible expression of some kind of actual social contract, with obligations and benefits for both sides. But good luck rallying support for that on HN, where short-term lottery-syndrome has everyone blinded.
Illinois is 13B+ in debt with 80B+ in long term obligations that take the form of pensions and entitlements. The social contract is there -- and constitutionally protected.
The scales are out of balance, the corn crop has failed, Caterpillar wants to move, gas is the highest in the nation, gang violence is increasing, the schools are struggling, and everyone feels the weight.
We need to grow, we need to export, and we need to sustain it for a prolonged period of time.