Last Monday, 30 sick children and their families trembled inside Chicago’s Ronald McDonald House, while looters broke down the front door to steal God knows what. This is wrong on so many levels and explains what’s behind the “Illinois Exodus” cited by the Chicago Tribune. By most measures, the Windy City ranks dead last amongst America’s major cities, and residents are voting with their feet.
Chicago is the second most un-attractive US city to millennials, who accept cold weather but reject states with high regulations and taxes (source: Smart Asset). In 1970, Illinois amended its constitution to enact an income tax and stop any future reforms to public pensions. The state is now a sinkhole with only $28.5 billion in assets against debts of $254.5 billion; ranking second-to-last in the quality of its finances (source: Truth in Accounting).
Sadly, Illinois ranks third in population loss and its Democrat governor and house speaker are working to raise taxes – with no plans to reduce the debt owed to retired public employees (who are living longer). No wonder Illinois residents rank their state government dead last in trust and accountability (source: Gallup). High taxes should buy German efficiency, not a beer-hall putsch in the Englewood Ronald McDonald House.
Englewood residents – after Monday’s police no-show – rushed out of houses Tuesday to stop Black Lives Matter from protesting. They were led by Daryl Smith, who called out the would-be rioters: “If you ain’t from Englewood, get the f**k out of here. Y’all don’t come when a kid gets shot. Y’all come out when it’s got something to do with the f**king police!” Well said, sir, but don’t expect Mayor Lightfoot to stand with you.
Last weekend, looters and thugs pillaged the Miracle Mile, while residents cowered in high-rise luxury. City headlines read, “The city burns, the mayor goes to a ribbon cutting.” Lightfoot was moved to finally see the violent assembly for what it’s always been: “This wasn’t any spontaneous reaction [but] a planned attack.” So this weekend, she ordered up an extra 1,000 police to protect downtown Chicago. Well played, madam, but don’t expect your prosecutor to help.
State’s Attorney Foxx is a lightning rod for media criticism, probably because she has dismissed 25,183 felony cases in three years and criminals behave as if they know it. Law-abiding Chicagoans know Foxx has made a mockery of the Constitution. Residents are denied the right to life, elected leaders tolerate angry mobs, and aggrieved groups don’t peaceably assemble. In fact, the founding fathers predicted as much.
John Adams believed constitutional constructs would only hold in a nation of moral and religious people, and Ben Franklin predicted those constructs would fail when “the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government.” Trump despotism is Democrat dogma. However, if voters swing toward authoritarianism, it will be blue-city failure to maintain law and order. For now, law-abiding and tax-paying citizens are moving to red states that actually serve we the people.