Comments on: Illinois Ranks Last in Another Fiscal Class http://blogs.e-rockford.com/inchambers/2008/07/01/illinois-ranks-last-in-another-fiscal-class/ The judge will see you now. Step into Springfield Bureau Chief Aaron Chambers’ chambers for an insider’s view on Illinois politics and government. No, Chambers isn’t a real judge. At least not in the sense of wearing a robe, wielding a gavel and issuing orders. But like a good judge, Chambers tells it like it is. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:31:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.4 By: Bookworm http://blogs.e-rockford.com/inchambers/2008/07/01/illinois-ranks-last-in-another-fiscal-class/#comment-427 Bookworm Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:24:09 +0000 http://blogs.e-rockford.com/inchambers/2008/07/01/illinois-ranks-last-in-another-fiscal-class/#comment-427 I don't know why they don't get excited about it. People understand what bankruptcy, foreclosure and reposession mean. An increasing number have experienced one or all of the above themselves, or know people who have. Not to mention companies like Enron going bankrupt and wiping out pensions and other benefits. It seems to me that the basic concept of being bankrupt, flat broke or out on your posterior would not be hard for the average person to grasp -- but as you say, it just isn't sexy enough to get their attention. Thanks for trying anyway! I don’t know why they don’t get excited about it. People understand what bankruptcy, foreclosure and reposession mean. An increasing number have experienced one or all of the above themselves, or know people who have. Not to mention companies like Enron going bankrupt and wiping out pensions and other benefits.
It seems to me that the basic concept of being bankrupt, flat broke or out on your posterior would not be hard for the average person to grasp — but as you say, it just isn’t sexy enough to get their attention. Thanks for trying anyway!

]]> By: Aaron Chambers http://blogs.e-rockford.com/inchambers/2008/07/01/illinois-ranks-last-in-another-fiscal-class/#comment-426 Aaron Chambers Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:05:44 +0000 http://blogs.e-rockford.com/inchambers/2008/07/01/illinois-ranks-last-in-another-fiscal-class/#comment-426 I agree. This is a scary statistic -- both in its size and its steady downward trend. However, it's not sexy. It's not nearly as exciting as the latest development in the federal probe of Blago, for instance. And people don't appear to get very excited about it. I'm doing what I can to change that. I agree. This is a scary statistic — both in its size and its steady downward trend.

However, it’s not sexy. It’s not nearly as exciting as the latest development in the federal probe of Blago, for instance. And people don’t appear to get very excited about it.

I’m doing what I can to change that.

]]> By: Bookworm http://blogs.e-rockford.com/inchambers/2008/07/01/illinois-ranks-last-in-another-fiscal-class/#comment-425 Bookworm Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:31:27 +0000 http://blogs.e-rockford.com/inchambers/2008/07/01/illinois-ranks-last-in-another-fiscal-class/#comment-425 Yikes! Is anyone out there listening? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?If any one figure sums up in understandable fashion just how bad things are, this is it. What do the other states still in the black have that we don't? It can't be just oil, warmer climates, lower taxes or right-to-work laws because even Rust Belt states like Michigan and Ohio are still way ahead of us in net worth. Don't think illegal immigrants or prison populations are to blame either because California and Texas have far bigger such populations, yet they have large surpluses. Nor does corruption or lack thereof explain the difference. New Jersey, another notoriously crooked state, does have a sizeable deficit; but Louisiana, even after Katrina, managed to have a $17 billion net worth. Yikes! Is anyone out there listening? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?If any one figure sums up in understandable fashion just how bad things are, this is it.
What do the other states still in the black have that we don’t? It can’t be just oil, warmer climates, lower taxes or right-to-work laws because even Rust Belt states like Michigan and Ohio are still way ahead of us in net worth. Don’t think illegal immigrants or prison populations are to blame either because California and Texas have far bigger such populations, yet they have large surpluses.
Nor does corruption or lack thereof explain the difference. New Jersey, another notoriously crooked state, does have a sizeable deficit; but Louisiana, even after Katrina, managed to have a $17 billion net worth.

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