You think the schools are bad here? Spend sometime in the Sun Belt. As far as the Metra Train, what system domestically do you think works better? People complain about Illinois, but it's hardly the only state facing problems. The numbers never seem to add up anywhere except for the very few.

_________________
Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

unfortunately he does when it comes to my field of workers' comp law. If it were up to Rauner we'd have a state full of sweat shops and slave laborers.

_________________

They want the "right to work".

_________________
Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

Well as long as he and his buddies stay wealthy that's cool.

_________________
Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Every state has problems. Illinois is better than most. I say that as a guy who chose not to return to Illinois too.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

When I retire, my kids won't be in school. If I was worried about great public schools, MA is the place to be.

I prefer the Bart in San Fran. It's train cars are pretty old, like Metra, but I use the system all the time. I have been using that brand new line in Denver from the airport to downtown Union station. That one is awesome. They are just getting going on expanding their mass transit. I tried Atlanta this summer, and it is about as glitchy as Metra. I haven't used NY's enough to have an opinion. I hear Portland's is good, but never used it.

By and large, most U.S. cities have weak public trans options. It is the nature of being fairly spread out with lots of roads. People tend to use their cars.

And if you're trying to compare the financial problems in IL to other states, then it's an argument you will lose. Outside of NJ, there is no place in a deeper hole than us. Wisconsin's pensions are 100% funded. Vermont has balanced its budget since the beginning of time without a balanced budget amendment. Even crazy CA with Jerry Brown took bold action to get its budget in line since the subprime crisis. Many states are sitting on large annual surplus and have robust rainy day funds.

_________________
Hawaii (fuck) You

You're complaining about Chicago transit system compared to other U.S. systems?!

La la land.

I was just complaining about the crappy Metra trains. Luckily I only deal with those a dozen times a year. My downtown folks complain relentlessly about cramped train cars, late arrivals/departures, outdated designs, and slow service.

_________________
Hawaii (fuck) You

I guess Mitch Rosen has been posting here all along right under our noses

_________________
Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

No, not that. Please call me IkeSouth or something, but don't insult me like that so close to the holidays.

_________________
Hawaii (fuck) You

He got his school.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I doubt any other suburban to urban train service is exempt from from these generic complaints. Especially the Sun Belt cities you hold in such high regard.

Worker's comp is a pretty complex insurance issue. It doesn't surprise me that a trial lawyer would like the current system. IL has the eighth highest cost per employee for WC insurance in the country. CA and NJ are 1 & 2. It's like trying to reform the out of control disability system, the leaches are going to fight any changes to a lawyer slush fund.

If you care about jobs and the cost of doing business in the state, then it is a relevant issue.

But I get it, taxes and costs of doing business don't matter to MANY because someone else pays them. When jobs move to other states or out of the country, we can just blame the employers. Because they're lying to us when they say the cost of doing business matters.

_________________
Hawaii (fuck) You

When you can get slaves to do the work it's better for the bottom line. That's for sure. And the leeches on disability? Pretty harsh.

_________________
Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

Money is more important than people to MANY.

_________________

That's what MANY people are saying. I don't know, but I believe it.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Definitely true of people that run businesses. That's why they all moved out of state. but we showed them with our moral superiority.

_________________
Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Did. Not. Happen.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Let's give the more tax breaks and subsidies. #FreeMarketWay

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I would not sully my reputation by doing things that they do in Indiana.

_________________
Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Pretty soon women won't be able to get abortions in North Carolina without Skypeing their fetus and explaining to it why it has to die. Raleigh-Durham Fever: Catch It!

_________________

I don't know if that's a bad idea.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Aren't IL and CA the two most broke states in the country? Doesn't northern IL have some of the highest property taxes in the country?

_________________

Welcome back, 1956!

_________________

I know

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I'm not an AZ/FL/TX guy either. I'm looking at either Chapel Hill NC or the Olympic Peninsula, depending on how work, the market, and my dad's health go for the next couple of years. He will be staying in Chicago, so I'm currently leaning towards the outskirts of Chapel Hill as airport accessibility and travel time to Chicago are much better.

_________________
"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

I'll be north- WI, the UP, Minnesota or maybe somewhere West. My kids finish high school in a few years, and hopefully college. I want to see where they land before I make any sort of move.

_________________
Hawaii (fuck) You

we almost moved to Raleigh about 10 years ago. after a weekend looking at houses, driving around, seeing the sites, I said..."you know what...this kind of sucks!" so we moved back to IL.

_________________
Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

I love to visit West Palm Beach but I think I would go insane if I lived there full-time and had to do that much driving. I hate driving, and there's no way around it in SoFla. It's not meant to be a walkable place.

_________________

I already said I can't stand the Sun Belt states....not sure what made you think I like them.

Look, people are choosing the South and West. It's not me. It's the overall population. People prefer the warmer weather and better financial arrangements- low housing costs and lower taxes. I doubt anyone is moving to those places because of public trans.

_________________
Hawaii (fuck) You