In a USA Today story Illinois is ranked as the third worst run state in the Union:
Go here to read the rest. As a life long resident of Illinois I vigorously protest! Illinois has had four governors go to Federal prison in the past four decades. Does that count for nothing? Illinois has exported people to the other states by the hundreds of thousands over the past decade. Our state government has been busily driving businesses away, thus enriching other states. Illinois has earned the bottom ranking!
Actually, Don, I think California will always have an edge on us in this department because their laws and courts are way screwier than ours. Plus, Rhode Island is so small and heavily urbanized and has a long enough history of municipal corruption that it could be a reflection of what Cook County might look like if it had its own state all to itself. On those two bases alone I would say they have beaten us to the bottom.
I respectfully disagree Elaine. Illinois has the worst credit rating of any of the States and that is an accurate reflection of the misgovernment that makes this rich state de facto bankrupt.
If by “worst run state” you mean “state with the worst/most incompetent FISCAL management,” then yes, I would agree we win… I mean lose… hands down. But if you define “worst run” to mean “worst in ALL aspects of overall governance” I still think there are at least a few states that are worse in that regard. CA and RI have already been mentioned, plus NJ and LA have, I think, more entrenched and pervasive corruption at the local government level.
NY and CA are also still be worse us in some aspects of tax burdens and oppressive nanny state-ism; IL gained a few points in the personal freedom category by finally enacting a shall-issue concealed carry law, though the outcome of the rules implementation process for obtaining permits remains to be seen.
As for which state is most corrupt, I dunno that “number of jailed governors or other public officials” is necessarily the most accurate measure of that.
Personally I would say the best measure of corruption is: how difficult is it for an ordinary citizen lacking wealth or political connections to obtain needed services — for example, a professional license or a building permit — or to have a grievance resolved (e.g. a disputed tax bill) without resorting to extra-legal measures, such as paying bribes, seeking intervention from someone with more clout, or promising to vote for a particular person or slate of candidates? While Chicago is notorious for this type of corruption, I’m not sure how other communities or other states would compare; I suspect some might be as bad or worse.
Don – Don’t be a wuss. California just wanted it more than Illinois, and they outplayed you. And look at all that California has going for it: natural resources, an established educational system, cutting-edge technology, Hollywood. They managed to blow all of it in pursuit of their goal of #50. Put another couple million of your Illinoisans in unfunded prisons and come back next year.
As for me, Maryland, My Maryland, you’re only in the middle of the pack, but I know you can do better. It’s that massive inflow of money from around the US – although I notice that your budget is still a mess. You’ve got the crime to make it to the 40’s, if you just didn’t have that high per capita income. Still, I respect your failure. Virginia is #14, and you’re #24. So squander away, and if states like Illinois keep phoning it in, you could be a playoff contender one day.
I have just been thinking, I know things have gotten a little better here, but what does it say about the REST of America, when PA (home of the one and only Philadelphia) is barely in the bottom half?