Today, a shocking idea was introduced to me. It's the idea of splitting Illinois's Cook County, primarily the city of Chicago, away from the rest of Illinois and making it its own state. The origin of the idea began in Southern and Central Illinois where they feel that Cook County and Chicago are munching up the state's tax dollars and imposing their political views on the rest of Illinois. They feel this way because they uphold much more conservative views than Cook County, and they attribute the liberal decisions made for the state with Cook County elected officials. Cook County is the second most populous county in the country and according to the article, the rest of Illinois feels like they're getting lost in the crowd.
At first I questioned the legitimacy of this idea. Because to me, the likeliness of Chicago becoming a state, about parallels the likeliness of republican candidate Jimmy McMillan becoming president in 2012. But, as I read more of an article published by the Huffington Post (click here to read), I learned that central Illinois state reps Bill Mitchell and Adam Brown actually proposed such an idea recently at a press conference. Bill Mitchell saying, "The old adage is true: Just outside Chicago there's a place called Illinois." Bill Mitchell has infact even introduced a bill to the Illinois General Assembly to separate the state from Cook County. To be passed, this bill would potentially be voted on by state citizens, and then congress would have to approve it, and finally the president would have to approve it as well.
Now, I suppose I can see why these Southern and Central Illinois citizens are getting frustrated, but I honestly think they just need to suck it up. We live in a democratic country, while our system is usually just and fair, it does not mean that everyone gets what they want. I think that if they really feel that strongly about their political views being enforced, than perhaps they should move to a more conservative state.
Chicago is the staple of Illinois, and according to the article, Cook County "...is the state's economic engine and key tax generator, providing substantial contributions to the state's other 101 counties for everything from schools to roads, colleges and universities, and prisons". Which means that downstate Illinois may possibly not even be able to financially support themselves if they became a state. I don't think that they could legitimately function without Cook County. A state cannot simply divide and become their own state because they feel overpowered. Plus, then all state maps, text books, and even the flag would need to be changed. 50 states is a nice even number, and 51 is not. Has Southern and Central Illinois really thought this through? Just because they aren't getting their way does that really entitle them to become their own state?
Overall, I think this concept is absurd and is never going to be implemented. And frankly I feel embarrassed for Bill Mitchell and Adam Brown for bringing it up at a press conference with a straight face and for introducing it as a bill and I plan on writing a strongly worded letter to Billy kindly explaining how stupid this idea is.
What do you think?
At first I questioned the legitimacy of this idea. Because to me, the likeliness of Chicago becoming a state, about parallels the likeliness of republican candidate Jimmy McMillan becoming president in 2012. But, as I read more of an article published by the Huffington Post (click here to read), I learned that central Illinois state reps Bill Mitchell and Adam Brown actually proposed such an idea recently at a press conference. Bill Mitchell saying, "The old adage is true: Just outside Chicago there's a place called Illinois." Bill Mitchell has infact even introduced a bill to the Illinois General Assembly to separate the state from Cook County. To be passed, this bill would potentially be voted on by state citizens, and then congress would have to approve it, and finally the president would have to approve it as well.
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| IL State Rep Bill Mitchell |
Chicago is the staple of Illinois, and according to the article, Cook County "...is the state's economic engine and key tax generator, providing substantial contributions to the state's other 101 counties for everything from schools to roads, colleges and universities, and prisons". Which means that downstate Illinois may possibly not even be able to financially support themselves if they became a state. I don't think that they could legitimately function without Cook County. A state cannot simply divide and become their own state because they feel overpowered. Plus, then all state maps, text books, and even the flag would need to be changed. 50 states is a nice even number, and 51 is not. Has Southern and Central Illinois really thought this through? Just because they aren't getting their way does that really entitle them to become their own state?
Overall, I think this concept is absurd and is never going to be implemented. And frankly I feel embarrassed for Bill Mitchell and Adam Brown for bringing it up at a press conference with a straight face and for introducing it as a bill and I plan on writing a strongly worded letter to Billy kindly explaining how stupid this idea is.
What do you think?
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