Population Loss
Illinois is one of only three states that saw its population decline in the last decade, losing more than 240,000 residents since 2020 alone. Since the year 2000, over 1.5 million people have left the state, taking their tax dollars with them. In 2022 alone, Illinois lost $9.8 billion in adjusted gross income due to out-migration, one of the highest losses in the nation. Fewer people means fewer jobs, less income tax revenue, and a shrinking tax base, which compounds the financial challenges already facing the state.
The exodus is hurting businesses, too. Illinois, once a thriving hub for economic opportunity, now finds itself with a stagnant job market. Over the last five years, Illinois has created zero net new employment, ranking among the worst in the nation. The current unemployment rate of 5% is the third highest in the U.S., with Chicago leading America’s 50 largest metro areas with a 6.2% unemployment rate. As other states boom, Illinois struggles to keep up.
Education in Crisis
Despite increasing education spending—Chicago Public Schools now spend almost $30,000 per student—student outcomes are plummeting. Only 35% of Illinois students can read at grade level, and just 27% are proficient in math. The numbers are even worse for Chicago, where only 25% of students can read at grade level, and just 18% meet math standards. While spending has soared, academic performance continues to fall, leaving a generation of children unprepared for their futures.
Crime Wave
For the 12th consecutive year, Chicago leads the nation in homicides, a grim testament to the city’s crime epidemic. While politicians claim violent crime is decreasing, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Robberies, assaults, and shootings continue to rise, and residents increasingly find themselves without police to respond to their 911 calls due to overwhelmed law enforcement. The city’s police force is struggling to keep up with the flood of violent crimes, while the controversial SAFE-T Act—which eliminated cash bail—has seen the jail population in Cook County drop to its lowest levels in 40 years, despite the surging crime rates.
The result? Grocery stores and major retailers like Walmart have fled the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, leaving residents with fewer options for basic necessities.
Suffocating Taxes and Pension Woes
Illinoisans are also facing some of the highest taxes in the nation. The state boasts the highest property taxes in the country, second-highest gas taxes, and one of the steepest corporate income tax rates. Property tax bills in some Chicago suburbs have skyrocketed by as much as 122%, igniting fears of a tax revolt. This unsustainable tax burden is crushing families, driving more people to leave, and discouraging businesses from setting up shop in the state.
Meanwhile, Illinois’ pension crisis is spiraling out of control. The state’s pension shortfall has grown to $142 billion, with Chicago alone holding over $53 billion in unfunded liabilities. These obligations are choking the city’s budget, which allocates nearly half its resources to pensions and debt service. Still, the progressive political establishment refuse to address the problem, clinging to the state’s constitutional pension protection clause.
Progressive Policies' Hollow Promises
The progressive leadership in Illinois continues to champion green energy mandates, sanctuary city policies, and costly social programs, all while ignoring the consequences. Renewable energy projects, while commendable in theory, have caused electricity prices to surge, with many initiatives stalled due to a lack of grid infrastructure. The state’s aggressive renewable energy goals, including one million electric vehicles on the road by 2030, remain far-fetched given current adoption rates.
At the same time, the state's focus on welcoming migrants has imposed heavy financial burdens on Chicago and its public services. The city has already spent nearly $200 million on migrant care, with Chicago Public Schools expected to shell out another $410 million this year alone.
Despite these challenges, Illinois leaders continue to push their progressive agenda, blind to the economic toll it’s taking on their residents. As Governor Pritzker proudly declares Illinois to be the "most progressive state in the nation," many Illinoisans are asking at what cost?
While progressivism may offer an idealistic vision of equity and social justice, the reality in Illinois and Chicago paints a starkly different picture. The policies implemented under this banner have driven families and businesses out of the state, left children struggling in failing schools, and fueled an alarming rise in crime. Until leaders face these challenges head-on and prioritize the well-being of their citizens, Illinois risks continuing its downward spiral—a cautionary tale for the rest of the nation.
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Photo Credit: Jacobwaller (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license )