Where is the “Why”? Pick up a newspaper today and you’ll read about plant closings in small towns, businesses leaving big cities, and people out of work. It’s happening so often in Illinois, and so many businesses have closed or left the state, that you could correctly declare our state an economic disaster. But why?
Each time a closing is announced, newspapers interview the newly out-of-work employees. The articles give plenty of ink for the unemployed to voice their disappointment with and anger at the companies where they’ve labored for decades. The workers say they feel betrayed by the very companies where they dedicated their lives. It all makes for compelling reading. It tugs at the heartstrings. It shows the angst of the idled workers who are trying to feed their families while trying to find work. But in article after article there’s not a word as to “why” all these companies are leaving Illinois. Last time I checked, reporters are to give the who, what, where and why of a story.
So here’s the why:
Illinois is no longer a business friendly state. The taxes placed on businesses make it nearly impossible to run a business, pay employees and make a profit. The unions operating in the businesses demand higher wages despite the high taxes and make it further impossible for a business to stay out of the red. Some Politicians speak out against businesses. They loudly state that the burden should be placed on businesses and not the workers. The say there should be higher taxes for businesses to pay and less for the “little guy”. We can now see where this thinking has gotten Illinois – in the red.
Without businesses there are no jobs. Without jobs people leave the state. Without people paying taxes and businesses paying taxes the state goes into a financial downward spiral. And that’s where Illinois is now. By business standards, Illinois is bankrupt.
So here’s another “why”:
Why aren’t government workers being laid off in Illinois? Why is government – from the municipal to the county to the state— continuing to add people to the payrolls – and guaranteeing them fat pensions—when the government is operating in the red? Why does Illinois now have more people working in government paid jobs than people working in manufacturing jobs (where each job creates three more)? In a word, taxes.
The government simply finds new ways to tax Illinois residents to fund its bloated staffs.
Besides income taxes Illinois residents now find themselves paying extra taxes on everything from electricity, gasoline, heating fuels, telephones, cell phones, cable television, clothes, car purchases, car sales, rentals, movies, theater, restaurants, toll roads, and more.
The higher taxes on business – along with all the other hiked taxes – is where idled workers should target their anger. While they’re at it, they ought to demand that the government lay off some of their – no, lots of their – workers. Put some sunshine on the government. Demand that it release the names and titles of every state, county and municipal employee and every contracted company or individual getting paid by your taxes. When that’s done it could bring about a united cry of “Why?” that could force a change in Illinois’ sorry economic situation.

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Mary Laney is a former television and radio anchor, is a regular columnist for The Chicago Daily Observer and a member of its editorial board.