1 in 4 Illinoisans think state worst place to live in U.S.
Illinoisans are frustrated. But the depths of that frustration may not have been evident until now. According to a recent Gallup survey: “Illinois has the unfortunate distinction of being the state with the highest percentage of residents who say it is the worst possible place to live. One in four Illinois residents (25%) say the state is...
Illinoisans are frustrated. But the depths of that frustration may not have been evident until now.
According to a recent Gallup survey:
“Illinois has the unfortunate distinction of being the state with the highest percentage of residents who say it is the worst possible place to live. One in four Illinois residents (25%) say the state is the worst place to live, followed by 17% each in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
“Throughout its history, Illinois has been rocked by high-profile scandals, investigations, and resignations from Chicago to Springfield and elsewhere throughout the state. Such scandals may explain why Illinois residents have the least trust in their state government across all 50 states. Additionally, they are among the most resentful about the amount they pay in state taxes. These factors may contribute to an overall low morale for the state’s residents.”
For the first time, Gallup conducted a poll in all 50 states to ask whether residents view their state as: the best possible place in which to live, as good as any to in, or the worst possible state to live in. A minimum of 600 residents was polled in every state.
Not only was Illinois rated as the worst place to live by its own residents, but it also beat the next two worst places – Rhode Island and Connecticut – by 8 percentage points, and the leading state – Montana – by a whopping 25 percentage points.
A scant 3 percent rated Illinois as the best possible state in which to live. See Chart 1. Tied with Rhode Island and Connecticut, no other state’s residents issued their home state lower marks. Texas’ residents led the survey with 28 percent of its residents rating the state as the best possible state in which to live. See Chart 2. It is interesting to note that Texas created 26 payroll jobs for every payroll job Illinois created over the past five years leads the nation in job growth, and has no state income tax.
For decades, Illinoisans have put up with political leadership that treats taxpayers like ATM machines. Job growth is anemic, taxes are too high, Illinois’ political reputation is tarnished thanks to business-as-usual cronyism and corruption, people are leaving the state in droves and now politicians want to break their promise that the 2011 income tax hike would be temporary.
The Gallup survey is revealing in that it reflects Illinoisans’ deep-seated frustration and dissatisfaction with its political leaders. But it might also reveal something more ominous to politicians: the jig is up. The citizenry knows it. Do the politicians?
