The fact of the matter is that because the Democratic party is in control of the state legislature, everyone benefits. Conservatives gripe and complain, especially when it comes to taxes, but the fact of the matter is that conservatives benefit like everyone else does from the infrastructure and state services that the tax dollars in Illinois provide. And while they also complain about Chicago dominating the state's politics, there's not a lot of complaining about the dollars that flow out of Chicago and Chicagoland that pay for excellent schools, a solid, well maintained state highway system that benefits its downstate agriculture and transportation industries, provision for law enforcement including a top notch state police department, all over the state. In fact, more dollars leave the Chicago area counties in tax revenue than are returned to them.
And I'd like a conservative to tell me where they're suffering under some kind of tyranny. What rights has any Illinoisan lost because of our majority Democratic state legislature and our governor? Is there a single individual liberty that is restricted or blocked under this state government? Illinois residents can still own guns, though they are required to be responsible for them. They can still attend church, proselytize their neighbors and send their kids to religious based private schools on tax credit scholarships. They can go to a library and check out any book they like, from a collection that represents a wide variety of literature. Illinois schools are doubling down on making sure that all perspectives of history and sociology are incorporated into the curriculum, which gives all students freedom of consicence to make their own choices and decisions based on facts. If a parent doesn't want their child to have that kind of education, they are free to educate them at home, or put them in a private school of their choice.
Illinois has become aggressive against the kind of censorship that is infringing on individual liberty in places like Florida and Texas. The state is refusing to fund libraries that censor books, and is making sure that state curriculum mandates for schools include things like African American and Native American history that is accurately taught. The state already has a well-funded, well developed system of community colleges, among the least expensive and most accesible to students anywhere in the country, and an outstanding state university system that is also pro-active in providing affordable, high quality education to its students. This most recent state legislative session, and the Governor, are sending a strong message that those who value intellectual freedom should seek their higher education in Illinois.
Governor Pritzker ranks as one of the single most effective governors in state history. His work with municipal leadership all over the state had Illinois prepared for the pandemic, with literally thousands of additional hospital beds and staff ready to serve during the pandemic. But the scope of the COVID 19 pandemic, which had the potential to be as far-reaching and as deadly in a densely populated city like Chicago, never materialized because of the way the governor managed the states resources in fighting off its worst effects. Hospitals were never over-topped. Respirators were available. Not all of the measures taken were popular, especially related to the schools, but the fact stands in contrast to the criticism. Illinois weathered the COVID-19 pandemic as well as any other state, because of the efforts of Governor J.B. Pritzker.
Democrats, the governor of Illinois is a model of outstanding political leadership. He's managed the current legislative session as well as he did the pandemic. An agenda, one approved overwhelmingly by the voters, is being implemented without drama, or a lot of controversy. It's being done with determination and strength.
We are so fortunate to be living in this state at this time.
Totally agreed
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