From peaceful southern Illinois, Chicago can look like a crime-ridden hellhole that’s welcomed far too many asylum seekers and is driving the state off a financial cliff and into a $3.2 billion deficit.
No surprise, then, that Illinois lost 83,839 residents in 2023, its 10th straight year of decline — as people and businesses flee across state lines seeking lower taxes and less red tape.
Now, separatists say rural counties should wave goodbye to Chicago and surrounding Cook County, and forge the state of ‘New Illinois.’
Their mantra is: ‘Leave Illinois without moving.’
American history is littered with examples of states and counties trying to redraw maps — and most often they’re doomed.
But Illinois’ separatists have the wind in their sails after winning nonbinding ballot resolutions in 33 of the state’s 102 counties.
Neighboring Indiana has taken notice, offering to shift its western border and absorb disgruntled parts of Illinois.
G.H. Merritt, chairman of New Illinois State, says she expects Illinois to soon ‘crash and burn’ due to the progressive tax-and-spend policies of Chicago’s political elite.