Random rant... I love Illinois, but I'm not very optimistic about its prospects. Decades of too-generous deals with public service unions are causing huge problems. The state currently spends 25% of its revenue on pensions - a number that is increasing rapidly. People are fleeing the state due to high taxes which only increases the tax burden on those that remain. Many retirees leave to establish residence in Florida - dodging both winter weather and high taxes. My unsolicited advice? Reduce taxes and hasten the inevitable bankruptcy in order to start the rebuilding process as soon as possible. Illinois still has tremendous human capital but it won't for long if it continues its current policies.
Grew up in IL. Went to U of I in Champaign. My son went to Northwestern in Evanston. He even still lives/works in Chicago. I know IL. The corruption in government there is so deep, so endemic - I just don't know if it can be rooted out. There really isn't a tax problem, or a lack of earnings/wealth to tax. Agreed the state would go bankrupt - but there is no provision in the law/tax code for a state to do so. States are considered to be sovereign, and therefore can tax their way to health. I don't I agree with that conceptually, and I'm pretty sure we're going to find out how it will work in the Land of Lincoln. I live in New Jersey now - some say it's like IL but just a little earlier. I tend to disagree, but how IL manages its current/chronic fiscal crisis will set a pattern that other states will have to follow. The state is nearing the death spiral, as tax increases will inevitably accelerate the inevitable day of reckoning - totally agree there!
I have lived in Chicago for seven years. I have never loved anywhere more, but I too read and hear constantly about the pension crisis. I have no reason to doubt it, but I also must note that businesses and high-earning residents are pouring into the city. There are new high-end condos being built on every corner, it seems. Economics has never been my bailiwick, but I am often perplexed at how the state can at once be in such dire straits and at the same time attract so many competitive businesses and workers. Well at least we have a totally inexperienced and untested governor coming in to figure it all out. That's comforting.
Chicago definitely seemed to be vibrant and thriving when I visited last summer. Certainly there is a strong market for $14 cocktails inside the Loop. But the state as a whole has lost 200,000 residents since the 2010 census.
The airport in Champaign is the smallest airport I've ever flown out of. 1 small runway, 2 gates, no traffic, almost zero security. Hard to believe that tiny hamlet would feature on the quiz at all much less in the first column, but no wonder this was so hard. Steep drop-off after the first answer.
Have you been to Springfields airport. it's not much bigger. I think the only reason they keep it open is for politicians. It will cost you $150 to fly into it from St Louis (2hr drive) or Chicago (2.5 hr drive).
Only got 2 Chicago because it's obvious and Aurora because of Wayne's World. probably should have guessed Springfield since there seems to be one in every state.
Not at all ... stopped at two.