Illinois, poster child for a deadbeat State

The State of Illinois must certainly be high on the list of those states vying for the dubious title of "deadbeat states", something that has become increasingly clear to many thousands of conservatives within the state since the now famous rant by Rick Santelli (CBNC) appeared on national television on Feb. 19, 2009.  It was that rant which precipitated the movement which has transformed millions of "sheeple" into political activists through the tea party movement of which the Santelli rant was the catalyst.

All across Illinois, thousands of common ordinary folks who had previously been "asleep" while the state continued to bilk and rob them throughout many, many years of tax and spend policies (both political parties) and union thug control of the government, have awakened during the past year.  In awakening, the former "sheeple" are now a big part of the lions roar calling for a transformation of the state from a deadbeat state to a state in which its government is not only responsive to its citizens, but acts on behalf of the better interests of those citizens.  The lions roar is being accomplished through, in great part, all of the tea party (and similar) groups throughout the state tea party umbrella known as the Illinois Tea Party.

What are some of the issues that has unwittingly helped Illinois become a close contender for Deadbeat State?

1. The extremely cumbersome pensions debt the state now holds as a result of the stranglehold the public workers unions have always exerted over Illinois government.  Here is a fine article which clearly and succinctly explains the problem and the results.
2. The unions representing the educators in the state are no slouch either when it comes to "bilking by finesse", or better yet, bilking by sheer greed.   As an example of how one (of many) local teachers union continues to be completely blind to the horrible financial straits of its district (and the community at large), the union (LEAD) has steadfastly refused to compromise with Community School District 300 in recent contract costs, an act that will not only cost the already financially strapped district millions, but will also cost that same union some teachers jobs.
3. The state is also blessed to have a pair of tax and spend U.S. Senators (Durbin and Burris) in Congress, each of whom have shown a tenacious and unrelenting propensity to not fully appreciate either the financial plight of the state, nor the will of the citizens in it.  By each casting their vote in favor of the earlier health care bill, and more recently (following the party line and the Obama agenda) in voting to allow the EPA to regulate the economy,  they have strapped untold millions of dollars of future financial burden on the state and its citizens.

Is there a cure for this cancer called deadbeat state?  Most assuredly.  It comes in the form of continued awareness of the issues which are feeding the cancer,  increased activism to fight it, involvement in local politics, and most assuredly making informed decisions at the voters booth in November.  A whole series of small steps ultimately makes great leaps.