We have written that we understand why some people continue to try to stay in California despite the corruption, the taxes, the homelessness, and the overall cost. It’s California. It’s pretty. The weather in most parts is fantastic and unlike any other area in the US. It has beaches. It has mountains. It has In-N-Out Burger.
We understand why people don’t want to leave Cali. But we don’t understand why (more) people don’t just pick up stakes and leave Illinois.
If you are from Illinois I do not mean to insult you. I know a few very nice people from the place and I am sure there are many charms I don’t know of. But it is cold. It’s flat. And it seems to have profound corruption issues. Like third world level.
We have a friend who lives on the South Side of Chicago in what I understand is a pretty tough area. We’re talking nightly gun-play type territory here. He is a business owner, sharp, and a very funny memer. I asked him why he didn’t leave. He said he’d like to but that he probably couldn’t sell his house and if he left he’d be leaving family that relied on him psychologically and (we assume) financially. So, if one is in that boat we understand. But otherwise we don’t understand.
This post was inspired by this story from The Capital Research Center.
Chicago Teachers Union: An Example in Corruption
In it the author chronicles the corruption and crony capitalism within the Chi-town teacher’s union. It’s nuts. It’s appalling. It’s apparently widespread. It’s not shocking, it is Chicago we’re talking about, but at what point do taxpayers rise up and check this behavior?
The answer is, likely never.
Where to begin? In 2023, there were 446 sexual abuse allegations in the Chicago Public School (CPS) system, ranging from sexual harassment to “the appearance of impropriety or possible grooming concerns.” Yikes.
Yet the issue of sexual abuse seems to have been overshadowed in the media by the loss of 77,000 laptops and other electronic devices..
Then, there are the scandals surrounding their new union president. Gates publicly opposed Chicago’s only school choice program, only to be caught sending her own son to private school. Choice for me, not for thee. She helped end the only lifeline for Chicago students who want out of their failing public schools, but her son gets the benefits of a pricey quality education, which she can afford with her income, which is just short of $300,000 a year. For those families without such resources? Tough luck.
OK, so the Chicago schools are full of corruption and God only knows what else. But how are things going over at city hall?
NBC 5 files LAWSUIT against Chicago mayor's administration over records related to migrant crisis
Former City of Chicago alderman convicted on federal racketeering, bribery, and extortion charges
He was Chicago’s longest serving alderman.
William Mahon, City Hall insider under 3 Chicago mayors, gets 18 months in prison in crooked Bridgeport bank scandal
A University of Illinois study finds that despite all vows to abolish shoebox and pork-barrel politics, Chicago remains the most corrupt city in the nation, judged by the per capita number of indicted officials.
OK so not so good in the Windy City proper. But surely things are better in the suburbs.
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard accused of corruption, trustees approve call for federal investigation
Dolton mayor to critics: ‘I’m the leader!’
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