(06-21-2017 05:30 PM)DFWMINER Wrote:  Related to the thread the other day, this writer proposes dissolving Illinois into the adjoining states. I don't know that I'd go for that if I lived in one of those states, thoughts?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/colum...olumn.html

Illinois is like Venezuela now, a fiscally broken state that has lost its will to live, although for the moment, we still have enough toilet paper.

But before we run out of the essentials, let's finally admit that after decade upon decade of taxing and spending and borrowing, Illinois has finally run out of other people's money.

Those "other people" include taxpayers who've abandoned the state. And now Illinois faces doomsday.

So as the politicians meet in Springfield this week for another round of posturing and gesturing and blaming, we need a plan.

....

Bills pile up; Moody's Investor Service says taxpayers are on the hook for $251 billion in unfunded public union pension liabilities.

Other states want nothing to do with this.

(06-21-2017 05:59 PM)THE NC Herd Fan Wrote:  California has huge problems with the state pension fund and now the push for state funded single payer, I could see CA in the same spot soon enough.

Take away the income from pot and it would be in the tank now.

(06-21-2017 09:32 PM)usmbacker Wrote:  Illinois, the home of Barack Obama, is the showcase of what decades of liberal Democratic leadership will lead to. Broke...,

This.

(06-21-2017 06:03 PM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  They just need a state property tax with a large homestead exemption. There is plenty of wealth in Chicago. A budget is a necessity though.

Lol.

Yes, by all means raise or create new taxes. That's clearly the issue here, not enough money coming in, not too much spending.

Good grief. You wanna chase out the last decent people actually contributing instead of taking? Welcome to Detroit.

One wonders when some y'all uppity yankme's will finally learn. Last one out, please turn off the lights. Lol

(06-21-2017 10:41 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  And New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Mass are on deck.

Hunh.

What do all these failing states seem to have in common?

Eff a fed bailout, NYC faced this decades ago and they had to make some hard choices then, time for a bit O bitter butter.

(06-21-2017 05:59 PM)THE NC Herd Fan Wrote:  California has huge problems with the state pension fund and now the push for state funded single payer, I could see CA in the same spot soon enough.

To be honest, I thought California would end up in this boat BEFORE Illinois would. But I guess since Cali is still holding on to the high-tech stuff, it would make a little more sense, I guess.

And I am so glad I decided to stick to the western side of the border when I moved up here...

I was at a recent event where someone (who would have means to know) told me that the State of Illinois is behind or not paying its bills to several of the rural electric cooperative (REC) utilities in the southern end of the State.

It's so bad that at least one REC has disconnected the State of Illinois and put them on collection. Let that sink in.

(06-21-2017 10:41 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  And New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Mass are on deck.

I'll put $5 on Michigan to happen before those.

(06-21-2017 09:46 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  Bailed out Automakers. Bailed out Wall St.

Guessing they'd bail out ILL, if needed.

The feds didn't bail out the automakers; they bailed out the United Auto Workers. And in doing so, they broke centuries of financial precedent by sticking it to the bond holders.

Without federal intervention, the automakers would have survived but the UAW would not have.

State of Illinois dissovles, wonder if that means a plethora of blue voters suddenly become part of red state voting districts.

(06-22-2017 01:24 PM)The Sicatoka Wrote:  

(06-21-2017 10:41 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  And New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Mass are on deck.

I'll put $5 on Michigan to happen before those.

Michigan is not in the bottom 10 right now.

Illinois, Connecticut, California, New Jersey, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Mass., Delaware, Maine and Hawaii are generally the bottom 10 in every report I have seen. Nearly all liberal states. Even KY that votes federally conservative has been traditionally controlled in the legislature by liberals for ever. This report from George Mason does a good job of breaking it all down.

Look at the dozen best states...there is a pattern there, too.

https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings

(06-22-2017 01:47 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(06-22-2017 01:24 PM)The Sicatoka Wrote:  

(06-21-2017 10:41 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  And New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Mass are on deck.

I'll put $5 on Michigan to happen before those.

Michigan is not in the bottom 10 right now.

Illinois, Connecticut, California, New Jersey, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Mass., Delaware, Maine and Hawaii are generally the bottom 10 in every report I have seen. Nearly all liberal states. Even KY that votes federally conservative has been traditionally controlled in the legislature by liberals for ever. This report from George Mason does a good job of breaking it all down.

Look at the dozen best states...there is a pattern there, too.

https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings

Isnt it ironic that the worst states are also the ones that want to start their own "Paris Accord."

(06-22-2017 01:45 PM)gdunn Wrote:  State of Illinois dissovles, wonder if that means a plethora of blue voters suddenly become part of red state voting districts.

this ************ hopes they choke on all of it....

(06-22-2017 01:45 PM)gdunn Wrote:  State of Illinois dissovles, wonder if that means a plethora of blue voters suddenly become part of red state voting districts.

ugh.. I hope not.. cause they'd stick East St. Louis in Missouri... and I don't want that hell hole! (now Alton and Granite city areas I'd be more than willing to take).